Man killed in Wichita explosion may have been making homemade fireworks, police say [Video]

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) UPDATE– The Wichita Police Department has provided an update on Thursday’s fatal explosion at a southeast Wichita apartment complex.

The WPD says a preliminary investigation of the incident has revealed that the victim was engaged in mixing “an unidentified substance” prior to the explosion. Police say this may have been linked to illegal homemade pyrotechnics manufacturing.

On Wednesday at 11:50 a.m., emergency personnel responded to the report of an explosion at an apartment complex garage at 8406 E. Harry. Wichita Police and Fire responded and found a garage on the east side of the complex ablaze.

Amidst firefighting efforts, a deceased male victim was discovered near the garage. Authorities are in the process of confirming the victim’s identity and informing their next of kin, WPD said.

In response to the incident, additional resources, including detectives, the bomb squad from the Wichita Police Department, Wichita Fire Investigators, and federal investigators from …