Bombing Suspect Purchased Fireworks from Phantom
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Wall Street Journal reported moments ago that Tamerian Tsarnaev, the suspected Boston Marathon bomber who died in the police shootout, purchased “two large pyrotechnic devices in February” from the Seabrook, N.H., Phantom Fireworks store.
The newspaper quotes William Weimer, vice president of Phantom Fireworks and general counsel for its Youngstown-based parent company, B.J. Alan Co., as saying the explosive powder contained in the fireworks would not have been sufficient to trigger the bombs.
Tsarnaev purchased two "Lock and Load" reloadable mortar kits at Phantom's store, which is near the Massachussetts border.
Weimer told the newspaper that as soon as the bombing suspects names became public, Phantom Fireworks reviewed its records to determine if Tamerian Tsarnaev or his brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, purchased fireworks at any of the company’s stores.
When Tamerian Tsarnaev’s purchase records were discovered, the company immediately notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to Weimer.
As of this posting, calls to Weimer had not been returned.
Phantom Fireworks was founded 30 years ago. Today its consumer firewors are sold at more than 1,200 locations across the country.
CLICK HERE to read The Wall Street Journal story.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to our free daily email headlines and to our twice-monthly print edition.