Man Seriously Injured In Potato Gun Explosion

A man was hospitalized after being seriously injured in a potato gun explosion.Police said they received a report of a shooting in the 200 block of Alpha Avenue at about 4:15 p.m. Monday, where they found 53-year-old John Berthiaume II lying in the street.

Berthiaume suffered injuries to his right arm and leg when his homemade potato gun exploded, Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said.The victim’s brother, Tony, said it appeared that his brother put too much black powder into the device.”I guess it stressed the metal out too much, and it blew up,” he said.Martha Dodd said the explosion sent shrapnel into her home across the street.”I looked out the door and saw him sitting on the ground and I said, ‘You just shot a hole in my house,’” Dodd said.-[source]