13-year-old hit in chest, killed when firework goes off in hands, MN cops say

A teenager is dead after a firework hit him in the chest, killing him on the Fourth of July, Minnesota officials told news outlets.

Deputies responded to a call for help at about 11 p.m. Friday, July 4, from Naytahwaush — a small community in Mahnomen County, the sheriff’s office told WCCO.

When deputies arrived, they located a 13-year-old boy who had no pulse and wasn’t breathing, according to the outlet.

First responders attempted life-saving measures, but the teen, identified as Michael Turner, was pronounced dead shortly after midnight, the sheriff’s office told KSTP.

Deputies say bystanders also performed chest compressions on Turner before first responders arrived, the station reported.

According to deputies, witnesses say the boy was holding a “large” firework and aiming it away from himself while it was lit, WDIO reported. However, the firework shot out backward, exiting from the bottom of the tube and hitting the teen in the chest, the sheriff’s office said.

An autopsy was scheduled and an investigation is underway, the station reported.

Naytahwaush is a roughly 250-mile drive northwest from Minneapolis.

This story was originally published July 6, 2025 at 8:49 AM with the headline "13-year-old hit in chest, killed when firework goes off in hands, MN cops say."