By Sarah Nagem
snagem@salisburypost.com
A Salisbury teenager severely injured his hand Thursday night as he was making a homemade firecracker, police said.
Byron Brush, 17, of 122 Newsome Road, injured his thumb and two fingers on his left hand, Salisbury Deputy Police Chief Steve Whitley said.
Brush remains in good condition at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Whitley said.
“He essentially blew himself up,” Whitley said.
He said Brush was using gunpowder, hot wax and an open flame to construct a firecracker.
Whitley said police do not think Brush intended to use the firecracker to hurt anyone.
“We do not suspect anything sinister going on,” he said.
The investigation is ongoing, and Whitley said Brush might face charges. Possessing firecrackers is illegal in North Carolina.