A 35-year-old woman, Keyonna Waddell, was convicted of injuring her boyfriend by throwing a handmade stick of dynamite at him while he was asleep, resulting in the loss of his hand. The incident occurred following a heated argument between the couple, during which Waddell had previously threatened to use the explosive on her partner.
Despite the boyfriend’s disbelief that Waddell would act on her threats, in March 2024, she tossed the dynamite into his room while he slept. Upon waking to a hissing noise, he attempted to extinguish the flame but was unsuccessful. As he tried to dispose of the explosive, it detonated, causing severe damage to his hand. The injured man sought help outside while Waddell fled the scene.
Emergency services rushed the victim to Nassau University Medical Center in New York, where his partially severed hand had to be amputated. Waddell was apprehended by law enforcement the following day and subsequently convicted of assault and various weapon possession charges by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney emphasized the seriousness of domestic violence, stating that the case serves as a stark reminder of its potential lethality. Waddell is scheduled for sentencing in a New York court on May 27 and may face up to 25 years in prison.
The prosecution of the case involves Assistant District Attorneys Dana Castaldo and Jacob DeLauter, with investigative support from Detective John Caraccia of the Suffolk County Police Department’s First Squad, as well as assistance from Thomas Kolacki and Brooke Baade of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Research Analysts team.
