'Awful' NH Connection to Bombing Suspect

The manager of Phantom Fireworks in Seabrook is adamant that mortar kits sold off the shelves of her store weren’t used to construct the bombs used during the Boston Marathon attacks.

Manager April Watson confirmed that Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older of the two brothers authorities say were behind the bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line, did purchase two 24-shell Showcase brand “Barely Legal Lock and Load” mortar kits — a product described as having the “biggest boom” in the store — on Feb. 6.

Watson agreed with other company officials, though, in stating that only a small amount of explosive material could've been extracted from the product, and that it's likely the Tsarnaevs used other material for their bombs after discovering this fact after purchasing the fireworks in Seabrook.

"It's an awful connection," said Watson, who along with her staff was dismayed after receiving a call from Phantom's corporate office on Friday informing them of the connection to Tamerlan Tsarnaev. "I can't believe it happened."

[Editor's note: Video of Watson discussing Tsarnaev's purchase is attached above.]

Tsarnaev, who was killed during a manhunt last week that eventually ended with younger brother Dzhokhar's capture, spent $200 cash on the fireworks on Feb. 6 about 20 minutes before the store closed at 8 p.m. that day, according to Watson.

There was nothing out of the ordinary to Phantom Fireworks cashier Megan Kearns when she helped Tamerlan Tsarnaev, a first-time customer, make the purchase.

Kearns said Tsarnaev, one of three customers that day, "wasn't overly friendly" but "wasn't rude" when he came in asking for the "biggest and loudest" fireworks that would give him the "biggest bang for his buck." Kearns said that question is "pretty much" asked by every customer, and that her answer and suggestion to buy the "Lock and Load" kit is one she recites "on a daily basis."

Tsarnaev spent "about 10 minutes" in the store — not that short or long of a time, according to Kearns — before purchasing two kits using the "buy one, get one free" coupon given to every new customer who comes through the front door, said Kearns.

"It was pretty much a normal customer interaction," said Kearns.

When contacted about the possible connection by the Boston Globe, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said only that it cannot "confirm, deny or comment on any investigative activity which would include individuals the FBI may or may not have spoken to." It's unknown if the Phantom-sold fireworks were in fact used to create the bombs used during the Boston Marathon attacks or during the subsequent manhunt.

Still, Watson said she's sorry that her store and company may have played a role in Tsarnaev's attempts to build a bomb.

"I wish that he bought anything else," said Watson, commenting on the "unfortunate" moniker of the products Tsarnaev purchased. "I wish that he bought nothing in this aisle or store."

All of the products sold at Phantom Fireworks are approved for consumer use and have passed a series of independent safety tests before hitting the shelves, and all customers are informed of the laws and regulations governing proper fireworks use before they purchase anything, said Watson.

Watson said additional in-store measures wouldn't help avoid issues like this in the future, as consumers, as long as they pass various requirements, are legally allowed to purchase the products sold at the store — much like other products that have the potential to claim lives if used improperly, according to Watson.

"It's like buying a car and then going and killing somebody," said Watson. "You can't stop selling cars [because of that]."