Prosecutor reviewing police report of incident that killed Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks
A prosecutor is reviewing a police report about the death of Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, who was killed July 4 in Novi, Michigan, during an apparent fireworks accident.
Novi Police Lt. Jason Meier said no criminal charges have been requested in the incident, which took place a little after 10 p.m. at the home of Blue Jackets goalie coach Manny Legace. It's unknown when the report will be made public.
According to police, Kivlenieks tried to escape from a hot tub after a fireworks device sent an explosive shell over the tub. He was struck by a second shell, fired seconds later, and an autopsy conducted July 5 by Oakland County chief medical examiner Dr. Ljubisa Dragovic showed it hit him in the left side of the chest.
Kivlenieks sustained extensive damage externally and fatal damage to his heart and lungs.
Early in the investigation, police thought Kivlenieks may have died from head trauma due to a slip-and-fall accident while trying to flee. Three 911 calls were made from Legace’s home in less than a span of two minutes.
According one of the 911 calls, Kivlenieks was still breathing when emergency operators were alerted to the situation around 10:13 p.m. There are conflicting reports about whether he was conscious. Kivlenieks was pronounced dead at nearby Ascension Providence Hospital in Novi.
No other injuries occurred during the incident, which happened at a wedding celebration for Legace’s daughter. Kivlenieks and Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who were visiting Legace for the weekend, attended.
No other Blue Jackets were there, a team source told The Dispatch.
Merzlikins and Kivlenieks are Latvian. Kivlenieks had returned to Columbus from Latvia on June 23. He was staying with Merzlikins and Merzlikins' wife, Aleksandra.
Police said no illegalities were discovered in their investigation and that Kivlenieks' death is considered a tragic accident. The 3-inch mortar shells in question are the largest allowed in Michigan for consumer use. Larger shells are considered professional or military grade and not legal for non-licensed individuals to launch.
The device itself was a commercial "cake style" nine-shot rack that contained three rows of three mortar tubes. All nine shells were launched. Police have not released the distance between the device and hot tub.
The Blue Jackets confirmed the incident took place at Legace’s offseason residence in Novi, but police have not revealed that information. The identities of the homeowner and person operating the fireworks were redacted in the report, which shows no indication that alcohol was a factor in the misfire.
Legace has been part of the Blue Jackets' organization for nine years and has served as the NHL goalie coach the past three seasons. He has not replied to text messages or a voicemail message from The Columbus Dispatch.
Kivlenieks' mother, Astrida, is in Riga, Latvia, and memorial plans have not been announced. The Blue Jackets are working to bring Kivlenieks' mother to the U.S.
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