Tracer round injures four people, shakes windows in Lindenhurst

Four people were injured Saturday when a .50 caliber tracer shell exploded as a military reservist tried to heat it with a torch outside his home.

Police received several emergency calls about 9:45 p.m. regarding an explosion and need for medical attention at the 50 block of Timber Lane.

“We found several injured people suffering from lacerations, mostly minor — face, hands, legs — the injuries were not life-threatening,” police Cmdr. George Moravec said.

Moravec said Garrett Rogers, 25, a military reservist, apparently brought the shell home from Afghanistan.

“They're quite large,” Moravec said, estimating the length at about 4 inches. “They're used in machine guns,” and high-powered rifles, he added.

He explained that every five or 10 rounds from a box of ammunition is a tracer round, which allows the gunner to aim.

“The actual bullet ignites and creates a flame trail. It's simply used for the visual effect,” Moravec said.

“He took a vise outside, he dismantled the casing and bullet. He put the bullet in a vise and put a torch to it to light it and it exploded,” Moravec said. “He thought it would be like a sparkler or road flare.”

The explosion sent pieces of the casing and the vise flying, Moravec said. Four people were injured. Rogers and his 23-year-old sister were treated and released at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, according to Moravec.

He said many people reported their windows shaking.

Rogers was not charged but police contacted Great Lakes Naval Station, Moravec said.

“There certainly was an element of danger presented to the neighborhood,” he said.