Police identify 12-year-old boy killed in firework accident in south Nashville

Antonio Braden (WKRN) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

WKRN – NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Police have identified the 12-year-old boy who died after being injured in a firework accident in south Nashville Sunday night.

The 12-year-old, identified as Antonio Braden, lived on Carroll Street near where the accident occurred.

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Police say Antonio was with a group of kids on Lewis Street setting off bottle rockets and roman candles when a 24-year old began setting off artillery type firework shells that he told police he purchased at a fireworks stand outside Davidson County.

The man had set off several of the shells when he noticed two juveniles grab a few of the unexploded ones. He asked Antonio to retrieve one of the shells from a friend.

That is when authorities say the other boy threw the shell, causing it to break.

The adult told police the next thing he knew, Antonio was holding a tube toward the sky while another juvenile was lighting the damaged firework.  He said the shell made a strange noise, after which Antonio ran about 30 feet and collapsed.

A nearby resident called 911 at 10:40 p.m.

The 24-year old and another man carried Antonio to an automobile and drove him to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No charges have been filed yet as the police department's Youth Services Division and the Hazardous Devices Unit continue to investigate this case.

Officers are working to recover and properly dispose of approximately one dozen of the artillery firework shells left behind while the men rushed the boy to the hospital.  Anyone with knowledge of where the missing fireworks are is asked to contact the Communications Center at 615-862-8600.

The police department reminds Nashvillians that it is illegal to use fireworks in Davidson County, with the exception of properly permitted public displays.  Violations can result in the issuance of citations and the confiscation of fireworks.

For safety tips when using fireworks, click here.