A woman in New York faces up to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of throwing a homemade dynamite stick at her sleeping boyfriend, resulting in the loss of his hand. The incident occurred in March 2024 following a heated argument between the couple.
Guilty Verdict Delivered
Keyonna Waddell, 35, was convicted on Friday, April 24, on charges including assault and multiple weapons possession counts, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The explosive argument escalated quickly, leading to the violent attack.
District Attorney Ray Tierney commented after the verdict, stating, “Domestic violence can escalate to deadly levels, and this case is a sobering reminder of that reality.”
Threats and the Attack
Prosecutors revealed that Waddell had threatened to use dynamite against her boyfriend multiple times in the months before the incident. However, he never believed she would follow through. On March 22, 2024, after an argument, both left the victim’s apartment, but he eventually returned and went to sleep.
Waddell then threw the explosive device into his room. The victim woke up to a hissing sound and saw a flame on the floor that he could not extinguish. In an attempt to save himself, he picked up the makeshift bomb to throw it outside, but it exploded, severely damaging his hand.
Aftermath and Arrest
The victim stumbled outside screaming for help and saw Waddell fleeing the scene. Police arrived and rushed him to Nassau University Medical Center, where doctors amputated the remainder of his hand and part of his arm. Waddell was arrested the following day.
She now faces sentencing on May 27. The case highlights the dangers of domestic violence and the devastating consequences of explosive threats.
