(PADUCAH, Ky.) – A Calvert City man has been charged with criminal mischief after a homemade sparkler bomb exploded at a construction site in June, injuring two workers at Lone Oak First Baptist Church.
Jessie Reed, 41, was served with a criminal summons on August 4 for Criminal Mischief 1st Degree in connection with the June 16 incident that sent two men to out-of-state hospitals with serious injuries.
The explosion occurred around 12:42 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the church construction site. Multiple 911 calls reported the explosion and injuries, prompting a response from McCracken County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Lone Oak Fire Department, and Mercy Regional Ambulance Service.
Emergency personnel quickly treated two injured males at the scene before transporting them to local hospitals. Due to the severity of their injuries, both victims were later transferred to out-of-state medical facilities for specialized treatment.
Initially, investigators were unsure whether the explosion was workplace-related. The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office called in additional resources, including the Paducah Police Bomb Squad, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and an explosive-detecting K9 unit from Kentucky State Police.
After several hours of investigation and interviews with witnesses and one of the victims, detectives determined the explosion was accidental and not workplace-related.
According to the investigation, Reed had constructed a “sparkler bomb” in his vehicle while at the jobsite. He then asked a coworker to cut a portion of the sparklers, which triggered the explosion. Investigators said the fireworks were being used in a manner they were not designed for.
The sheriff’s office continued investigating the incident for more than a month before filing charges against Reed.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office thanked several agencies and organizations for their assistance, including A&K Construction workers who provided first aid, Lone Oak Baptist Church, Paducah Police Department, Lone Oak Fire Department, Mercy Regional Ambulance, McCracken County Emergency Management, Kentucky State Police, ATF, and the FBI.