Two men sentenced in St. Louis County fireworks explosion that killed four
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Two men were sentenced to decades behind bars over a deadly fireworks explosion in north St. Louis County that killed four people.
On Thursday, a judge sentenced Seneca Mahan and Terrell Cooks each to 25 years in prison after both pleaded guilty to felony charges in the explosion earlier this year.
The explosion happened around 1:30 a.m. on June 17, 2022, at a home in the 6600 block of Parker Road, located in unincorporated north St. Louis County.
Eighteen-year-old Damario Cooks and his cousin, 16-year-old Travell Eason, lived at the home and died in the explosion. Their friends, 21-year-old William Jones and 17-year-old Christopher Jones, were also killed. Another minor was also injured.
Investigators determined Terrell Cooks and Mahan manufactured and sold illegal explosives known as ‘ground salutes,’ powerful homemade explosives far beyond what's legally allowed. They then directed the victims to help manufacture explosive materials from fireworks, which eventually led to the explosion.
In July, Cooks pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, two counts, two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of unlawful manufacturing of an illegal weapon and possession of a controlled substance.
In January, Mahan pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and unlawful manufacturing of an illegal weapon.
A third co-defendant, Marquita Guest, pleaded guilty in February to one count of unlawful manufacturing of an illegal weapon. She was sentenced to three years of probation and 80 hours of community service.
