A Virginia teenager was killed in an explosion from a World War II-era hand grenade that authorities say was purchased at an antique mall in North Carolina.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued a statement about the incident on Thursday as agents search for other explosives that may have been unknowingly sold at the same Fancy Flea Antique Mall in Shallotte.
Authorities did not reveal the identity of the teen, who was said to have died when the MK2 grenade detonated two days before Christmas on December 23 in Abingdon, Virginia.
‘At the time of sale, neither the vendor nor buyer(s) believed the grenades to be functioning or hazardous,’ the ATF statement read.
A Virginia teen was killed in an explosion from a World War II-era hand grenade that authorities say was purchased at the Fancy Flea Antique Mall (pictured) in Shallotte, North Carolina
The ATF said the MK2 grenade – a style used during WWII – was thought to be ‘inert’ at the time it was purchased at Fancy Flea on June 13.
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The agency had said in December they were looking for a grenade that was sold from that vendor in June and may be ready to explode.
The explosive was initially believed to be inactive, but ‘subsequent information’ confirmed it could still contain materials that could render it combustible.
Authorities said they do not know how many grenades were sold at Fancy Flea or who purchased them because cash transactions are common at the store.
The ATF asked the public for help in locating any that are still out there.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the North Carolina Field Division at 704-716-1800 or the ATF tip line at 1-800-283-8477.
A World War II-era MK2 hand grenade like the one that killed the Virginia teen last month is shown above in a file photo. Authorities say neither the seller nor buyer knew the grenade was functioning at the time of purchase in June
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