Fireworks Mishaps In Matagorda County And Houston

HOUSTON (AP) – A Texas teenager who lit 180 sparklers that were taped together needed to have part of his leg amputated and suffered burns after the sparklers exploded.

The family of 15-year-old Rowdy Radford said he also may lose his vision due to Saturday’s accident.

Matagorda County sheriff’s Sgt. James Orr said Tuesday that the teen was at a home in the Gulf Coast community of Sargent when he wrapped the sparklers together.

The teen’s aunt, Lorin Meadows, told KHOU-TV in Houston that the makeshift device exploded as soon as it was lit.

Orr says family members heard an explosion and rushed outside to find the injured boy with his left leg nearly severed.

Orr says Radford was transported by helicopter to a Houston hospital, where he remains hospitalized.

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HOUSTON (AP) – Police say a third person has died in a shooting near downtown Houston that happened as people gathered in a street to watch an illegal fireworks display.

Investigators initially said two were killed and two were injured Monday night after an argument broke out between two groups of people. Police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said Tuesday that the third person who died was not one of those originally listed as injured.

Authorities say at least three males began shooting at one of the victims. Five people were struck by gunfire.

The three who were killed were all adult men.

Among the injured was a 10-year-old child, who KTRK-TV reports was shot in the abdomen and taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

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