EOD Responds to Site of Deadly Recycling Center Explosion

Ellisville, Mississippi Jarrell Recycling in Ellisville was evacuated after an explosion from an unknown source led to the death of an employee. James Keyes, 35, of Laurel, died from "major lower body trauma" sustained during the explosion.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, and the Mississippi State Fire Marshal's Office responded to investigate the explosion.

An Army EOD team from Fort Polk, Louisiana, was called to assist after another explosive device, described as a "potentially military ordnance device," was discovered during the investigation, according to the Jones County Sheriff's Department. Authorities don't know where the device came from or how long it was at the recycling center.

The EOD team destroyed the device and conducted a check of the property. No additional military ordnance was found.

In a statement, Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin said, "We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the U.S. Army EOD team from Fort Polk. We are blessed to have partners at the local, state and federal levels who provide expertise and assistance in difficult situations, such as we have faced this week here in Jones County."