Canton fire officials have identified the two men who were seriously injured in last week’s devastating explosion at a vacant home on Bonnot Place NE as investigators continue working to determine the cause and whether criminal charges will be filed.
According to a news release issued Tuesday by the Canton Fire Department, the men are Justin J. Bruce, 41, and Michael L. Mullins, 42. Both remain hospitalized in the Burn Unit at Akron Children’s Hospital.
The names are the first official identification of the two men injured in the July 30 explosion at 1617 Bonnot Place NE, where a home was destroyed and multiple neighboring properties were damaged.
Division Chief Steve Henderson told JMN News partner News 5 Cleveland that investigators believe the two men were inside the vacant home, which had been listed for sale, when the explosion occurred.
“The men were not supposed to be inside, are now considered suspects, and charges could be filed against them this week,” Henderson told JMN News partner News 5 Cleveland.
Henderson said investigators believe they have largely determined what caused the explosion but are continuing to gather information before making any charging decisions.
“We’re pretty sure we’ve narrowed down the cause. There’s still some information we’re trying to gather,” Henderson told JMN News partner News 5 Cleveland. “We need to interview the two suspects.”
Officials have not publicly released the specific cause of the explosion.
The blast occurred shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday, leveling the home and causing extensive damage throughout the neighborhood. Three homes have since been demolished, while several others sustained significant structural damage.
Among those affected is Malone University student Sarah Bricker, whose rental home was damaged in the explosion.
“I obviously heard a big explosion, like I could just feel it in my chest. My ears were ringing,” Bricker told JMN News partner News 5 Cleveland.
She said she and her roommates continue finding new damage throughout the home.
“We’ve been noticing more cracks in our house, in the walls and ceilings and even like in the floor where the wall meets the floor,” Bricker told JMN News partner News 5 Cleveland.
Neighbor Chuck Blunt told JMN News partner News 5 Cleveland that one of the injured men was thrown from the house and landed in his front yard.
“He was lying in our yard screaming, ‘Help me, help me, help me,’ and I did,” Blunt said.
While grateful his family survived, Blunt said he hopes anyone found responsible is held accountable.
“Oh hell, heck yes. Prosecute them 1,000%,” Blunt told JMN News partner News 5 Cleveland.
Bricker shared a similar view.
“If they are at fault, then I think they’ll have to live with the consequences,” she told JMN News partner News 5 Cleveland.
As of Tuesday, no criminal charges had been filed. Henderson said investigators expect additional information to be released as the investigation continues.
