Mich. man killed by firework blast to chest

Before an errant firework blew into a Detroit man's chest and ended his life Friday night, he was spending the Fourth of July like millions of Americans — grilling and celebrating.

Ron Mohlman, 55, of Detroit, said he and his friend Mahir Aburouman, 44, were at a house on Detroit's west side Friday night. They had a fire pit blazing, and were grilling when people started shooting off fireworks in a driveway.

Just before 10:30 p.m., Aburouman lit a firework, and it flew at him instead of shooting into the air.

"It was like a flash, like a bomb, and he fell backwards. I went over there and grabbed his hand and said, 'Hey Mike, it'll be all right,' " and found a pillow to place under his head," Mohlman said.

But his friend did not respond, and within a minute, Aburouman's pulse was gone.

"It happened so fast you know; it's a terrible thing," Mohlman said.

Mohlman said Aburouman worked construction and had four daughters, whom he talked about often; he was separated from their mother.

"I know he was a good guy who loved his kids," said Mohlman, who had known Aburouman for about 10 years.

"It's a tragedy what happened last night. … I would never want to go through that again," Mohlman said. "People who mess with fireworks, I don't want to be around none of that."

Aburouman's death has been ruled accidental. He died of a perforation to the chest by projectile, according to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.