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Politician's stepson injured while making a bomb in Wheatfield

Chris Caya/WBFO News

The investigation continues into the early morning explosion in Wheatfield that seriously injured a man who was making a bomb.

Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour says the blast occurred around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in a detached garage at a home on Walmore Road. The man, identified late this afternoon as 45-year-old Michael O'Neill, suffered a "catastrophic" injury to his foot.

At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Voutour said his office contacted federal authorities for assistance.

"The nature of the crime is above the specialty of local police," Voutour said. "That's why we called our federal partners in right away. Anytime you have an explosive, the federal government gets involved."

The home where the explosion occurred is owned by Niagara County Legislature Chair William Ross. O'Neill is Ross' stepson. He's also a former guard at the Niagara County jail.

Voutour said investigators still don't know why O'Neill was making an explosive device.