Bomb squad, Boardman fire respond to live mortar round

Staff report

Boardman

The Boardman Fire Department and the Youngstown Bomb Squad were called Friday to check out a mortar round.

Both responded to a call about a “live” round at 1 p.m. Friday, after a boy and his mother attempted to sell the War World II artifact to First Choice Coin and Jewelry on Market Street.

The bomb squad is still unsure if the mortar was live. That will be known after X-rays are done of the explosive. The round then will be disposed of by the bomb squad.

A mortar round is an explosive that is fired through an artillery weapon used in war.

James Engel, manager of First Choice Coin and Jewelry, said he often sees war memorabilia come into the shop, but rarely does he see a live explosive. Because he often deals with antique war memorabilia, Engel realized the mortar round could be dangerous.

“I took a closer look at it, and it had not been demilitarized,” Engel said.

Engel told the mother and boy the round potentially could be live, and to take it to the police station. It had been given to the boy after he helped clean out a house. He told Engel he had it for a couple of months.

“The boy was shocked because he said he dropped it a few times,” Engel said.

They called authorities after leaving the coin shop and pulling their vehicle over off Boardman Boulevard.

Engel was glad to know they decided to call law enforcement to take care of it.

The bomb squad often gets calls for military weaponry because many people like to collect items such as grenades and mortar rounds. Although it is still undetermined if the mortar round is live, it will be treated as if it is before being destroyed.