Male has ‘severe injuries’ to his hand after picking up explosive device

Latest on this report: Old fireworks critically injure two men, prompting warning from Wichita police

Police are having a K-9 bomb dog sweep the area of the 1100 block of South Emporia, near Lincoln, after a male picked up an object and it exploded in his hand, critically injuring him.

Police spokesperson Andrew Ford said around 1:40 p.m. that the measure was out of an abundance of caution, and they don’t think there are any other explosive devices.

The male was taken to the hospital and has been sedated. He is in stable condition, Ford said.

Ford said there were severe injuries to the male’s hand after police arrived to the initial report of a shooting at 12:45 p.m. First responders applied a tourniquet.

“That victim then told the officers that he had picked up an object and when he walked away with that object, it detonated in his hand,” Ford said. “If a person sees any type of fireworks or any type of object that looks suspicious, we do not want them picking those objects up. What we want them to do is dial 911.”

Officers with the bomb squad are also at the scene. Ford said he didn’t know at this time what exactly the device was.

An officer, over Sedgwick County Emergency Communications 911 scanner traffic, said: “I am told it was a round stick or pipe object with something black wrapped on the end of it.

This story was originally published January 2, 2026 at 1:38 PM.