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SEARCHCharlotte-Mecklenburg Police SWAT veteran Fred Thornton died after incorrectly attempting to re-insert the pin into a flash-bang device when it exploded, according to preliminary results of the investigation.
Charlotte-Mecklenberg PD's Fred Thornton. Photo: CMPD.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police SWAT veteran Fred Thornton died after incorrectly attempting to re-insert the pin into a flash-bang device when it exploded, reports the Charlotte Observer.
In a statement released late Wednesday, the department said "there are no reasons to believe or evidence to suggest the device safety features failed or that a malfunction caused the device to be activated."
Officer Fred Thornton, a 23-year veteran and father of four, died as a result of injuries from the Feb. 25 incident. Officer Thornton, the agency's longest tenured SWAT officer, was at home attempting to secure his gear at the time.
Read the full story at CharlotteObserver.com .
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