Explosion called teenage prank at East Tennessee Wal-mart

 

WBIR-Lenoir City Police believe a teenage prank is to blame for a commotion at the local Wal-mart store.

Authorities received a call around 7:00 pm Tuesday night that an explosion was heard outside the Wal-mart on Highway 321.  When investigators arrived, witnesses told them the explosion came from the buggy area in the parking lot.  Those witnesses also saw two vehicles leaving the parking lot after the noise.

Officers cordoned off a section of the parking lot to investigate.  Don W. White, Lenoir City Police Chief, says they found a homemade explosive, containing fireworks, in a shopping cart.  The device did go off, but didn't cause any damage.

Chief White says they reviewed the surveillance tapes from the parking lot, and have a pretty good description of the two vehicles leaving the scene.

The Wal-mart was not closed during the investigation.