Explosion at Wyoming home leaves apparently suicidal man dead, 3 officers injured

Wyo. man dead, 3 officers hurt in home explosion

CASPER, Wyo. — An investigation is under way into an explosion that leveled a Wyoming home, leaving an apparently suicidal man dead and three police officers injured.

Police received a call Saturday morning about a suicidal person in a house who had disconnected the gas lines.

Officers evacuated the neighborhood and set up roadblocks shortly before the blast occurred, just after noon.

Fire crews found 44-year-old Michael Lesher in the basement of the collapsed home still breathing at about 6 p.m. He was transported to Wyoming Medical Center, where he died a few hours later.

Police Lt. Mark Trimble says three officers were nearing the front porch when the house exploded. They were treated at the hospital for abrasions and bruises and released.

The Casper Fire Department is investigating.

Information from: Casper Star-Tribune - Casper, www.casperstartribune.net