NY father-to-be killed, brother injured when gender reveal device explodes

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Monday, February 22, 2021
Father-to-be killed, brother hurt when gender reveal device explodes
A Sullivan County man was killed and his brother injured when a gender reveal device they were building exploded.

LIBERTY, New York -- A New York man was killed and his brother injured when a gender reveal device they were building exploded.

The incident happened just before noon Sunday, with state police responding to a report of an explosion.

Authorities say the investigation revealed that 28-year-old Christopher Pekny was building a device to be used at a child gender reveal party.

The device exploded, resulting in Pekny's death. State police confirm he was the father-to-be.

His brother, 27-year-old Michael Pekny, was transported to a medical center in Middletown, New York.

The incident remains under investigation by the New York State Police and the New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit.