Overview

• On July 4 in Naytahwaush, a large consumer firework discharged backward through its launch tube and struck Michael Turner in the chest around 11 p.m.
• Bystanders and Mahnomen County deputies performed chest compressions before paramedics arrived, but Turner was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on July 5.
• The Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office is examining potential safety or handling issues with the firework as part of its investigation.
• White Earth Nation leaders and local groups have mobilized grief counseling and support services for residents affected by the tragedy.
• State Fire Marshal data show that fireworks misfires and related injuries have led to dozens of hospitalizations in Minnesota each Independence Day since 2019.