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Two children die in explosive tragedy
There is nothing more tragic than children dying accidentally.
But two grade-school children, Andrew Etcheverry, 8, and Jenie Marie Klawitter, 7, died Tuesday in an explosion that injuried six other children, ages 7 to 12. One grieving parent said a day care center was being operated at the site of the blast. The incident happened at about 4:43 p.m. at 1913 Maple Avenue in the Oleander neighborhood. The coroner's office reported there was an accidental detonation of an explosive device that was thought to have been rendered inert. The case is still under investigation. Nightmare doesn't begin to describe how awful both the parents and the community feel about such a horrible event. Investigators and the news media will try to find out in coming days how this could happen and how others can prevent such a thing from ever happening again. In the meantime, our sympathies and prayers go out to the families involved. Posted by Steve E. Swenson 64 comments from 46 users
posted by
catman
on Aug 30, 2006 at 07:52 AM
hi i am very soory to hear about the 2 childern getting killed. that must have been very Devastating to everyone.
posted by
simply661
on Aug 30, 2006 at 07:53 AM
I wanna know where the adults were in that home. No one was supervising obviously, It was a daycare for christ sake. This place isn't very far from where im located. What a tragedy!
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 08:51 AM
May the Lord Jesus be with you all during this time of tragedy. my prayers are with those who have lost a loved one. Children are our hope and dreams for a better future in this world, now we have lost two of God children. We will never forget them for how they enlighted our lives with there smiles and laughter. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 08:57 AM
An explosive device "thought to have been rendered inert"! In a daycare!?! I really can't think of a thing to say.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 08:58 AM
There is already enough pain in this story that we should not make matters worse by assuming anything. Please let the facts come out first. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:04 AM
There are many facts to this case that we do not know. It would be correct to say that we should wait for the facts to be released before commenting on the story.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:12 AM
I would like to know who was supervising these children and where they received the shell from. Why were the parents/caretakers paying closer attention to these children. I understand that children like to play together and it is difficult to keep them under supervision every minute of the day. This tragic incident just shows us how much more we need to be involved in everything our children do.
posted by
mdclark18
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:23 AM
How do kid get a hold of an expolsive device? I think that shows who is responsibile. If my kids got into an poison or something that could be explosive and they died, that would be my fault not an accident. This is sad and I still feel bad for the families. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:49 AM
Instead of condemning the parents of those children, you should be praying for them and the children. Unless you know the facts firsthand, who are you to call the parents idiots. This is a terrible tragedy, that could have happened to anyone, and all it takes is a few minutes for an accident to happen. Just because it happened in the yard of a daycare, doesn't mean it came from the daycare itself. For all of you are have your opinions of those "idiot" parents, just remember Matthew 7:1-5 - Judge not, lest ye be judged. . . . . .
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:56 AM
Anon: I don't think anybody above condemned the parents of these children. There was a mention of parents/caretakers though. It is safe to assume that the caretakers at the facility are also parents, even if they are not the parents of the children that were killed.
posted by
mattloch
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:06 AM
The information so far available has eight childred between the ages of 7 and 12 playing with shotgun shells (that were supposedly rendered inert?) in a working barbeque grill.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:24 AM
While removing a zero clearance fireplace from a cabin in the mountains, we found a WWII era artillary ordnance. It turned out not to be a live round but why stash it under the fireplace? posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:24 AM
The newspaper said it was thought to be a WWII shell. Has the news been updated?
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:27 AM
mattloch,
Who mentioned the BBQ? posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:39 AM
It was 4:30 pm, Moms were probably in the house preparing dinner and Dad's were just getting off work. What do you mean where were the parents? These kids were in their own neighborhood playing the way kids play. Something tells me it was just an idyllic afternoon gone wrong. It happens. Don't blame the parents on this one. If they can't feel safe letting their kids play in their own neighborhood then we're doomed! Childhood is supposed to be sweet and carefree, but sometimes harsh reality creeps in and there's not a thing we can do about it. It happened when I was young and I'd be willing to bet some of you can think of at least one incident when you were a child. But to blame the parents for letting their kids play in their own neighborhood is ridiculous!
posted by
dmchenry
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:39 AM
Steve Swenson has been out reporting this story this morning and will have a new story online soon. He promises many new details. We're also working on lots of video this morning that you should see in a matter of 10-15 minutes.Check back soon. posted by
randomfactor
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:44 AM
A tragedy any way you slice it. . It's curious to me to compare the blame-the-parents postings in the Riverwalk drowning with the support-the-parents motif here, though. posted by
lovelylady
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:53 AM
Hug your child today. Take nothing for granted. Remember the families, the neighbors, and the first responders in prayer.
posted by
dusty1215
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:55 AM
Not enough facts on this to blame anyone. It happened in front of an apt complex. Everyone wants to place blame for a horrible accident. In an area of San Diego that the navy used for munitions practice a kid is killed every year when they are out playing in the hills surrounding the area. The navy didn't clean up the area but allowed to homes to be built around it. This is a tragic accident that claimed young lives.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:57 AM
When my son was small I had a deal with the neighbor on the other side of the street (a cul-de-sac with no afternoon traffic). Either I would be watching my son and her daughter in my house or she would be watching them at her house. Niether of us had pools so the back yards were considered safe.
Whenever my son wanted to go play across the street, I would call and confirm that it was okay and then watch him approach their house until I got a wave from mom across the street. One afternoon after a wind storm our children were playing in the back yard at her house. Neither of us realized that a section of fence next to her house had lost some boards enabling the children to pass through. I received a call from the mother across the street asking if the children had come to my house. When I said no, we both ran into the street looking for our children. We found them in a neighbor's back yard next to the very green (can't see the bottom green) pool. Her daughter was trying to reach a floating toy, my son was holding her hand while she leaned over the water. We were this close to losing two children. If they had fallen into the murky water it could have taken hours or days to locate them, since we wouldn't have even known they were in the water. Who would have been to blame? What would you bloggers have already decided? posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:58 AM
I've given that some thought, because I'm one of those who are of the blame the parents group in the Riverwalk drowning. We are always responsible for the safety of our children. To feel secure about your children's safety in one's own home is natural, to feel secure about your children's safety in a public park is negligent. Then to blame another child for your negligence is insane.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 11:02 AM
It may have been an Uncle Sam paper with, a second amendment type guy I used to work for had one on his desk and wouldn't remove it until he was forced to remove it.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 11:11 AM
mucus is right, these kids need more supervision and mucus should know, he looks after kids all the time, after all he is a Republiken party activist.
But even he is not always as careful as he should be, his two primary care kids Cheney and Bush are always making stupid mistakes, oh well nobody is perfect. posted by
mattloch
on Aug 30, 2006 at 11:26 AM
My information was based on emails I got directly from the Californian. But the story has changed now. It looks like a series of accidents, completely unintentional, led to this tragedy.
posted by
MyLefteFoot
on Aug 30, 2006 at 11:41 AM
Mocus
Take heed of your harsh words! What goes around comes around. And it may come around to you. Who will show you kindness and understanding when it's your turn to explain your actions. Understand This----even in the most regulated households children can find a way to do something secretive or dangerous. Blaming the parents just adds another layer of guilt to the horrible pain they already feel. I've asked you this before, but never got an answer. How can you call yourself a Christian when you harbor such ill will in your heart? Do you think you act as Christ would want you to? posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 11:42 AM
accidents happen, said to say but true. Prayers to all the families. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 12:19 PM
I find it repulsive that some neighbors claimed to have seen the children playing with an artillery shell, yet did not inform the childrens parents. I also find it somewhat disturbing that the parents were not aware of their children's activities because apparently no one checked. My heart goes out to the children, who seemed to be the only ones unaware that what they were playing with was dangerous.
posted by
MyLefteFoot
on Aug 30, 2006 at 12:34 PM
Mocus posted by
lfreeman5902
on Aug 30, 2006 at 12:58 PM
My prayers are with the rest of the children injured and the family and friends to these children. You all talking smack should be ashamed of yourselves. These kids have been killed or injured and all you can do is talk like stupid idiots. Just think what would have happened if this was your child. Would you be on here talking like this? Or would you be on here wanting to read peoples thoughtful and gracious comments about your children and their friends. You are the adults, try thinking about who and what you are talking about. This day in age we all know that people don't really watch their children like they should, and we know we only have ourselves to blame for that, because we don't make time for it. However, just like (dgrealish) was saying sometimes you just have dinner to make or step away because a baby woke up, you just never know. Maybe someone could have taken the bullet away from them, but their mom or gardian went in to use the little girls room, and all of a sudden the kid has the bullet again and takes it outside hits it against the table one time and it explodes. Who are you going to blame know? Surely not the mother or gardian that put it up. Are you going to blame the small child that is dead? Wake up this stuff happens all the time, may GOD BLESS all of you who are passing judgement and saying harsh words towards people you don't know. And talking about a situation you know nothing about. I hope you all talking crap, wake up one day and realize GOD has made you realize it's just an awful tragedy. posted by
rhodaib
on Aug 30, 2006 at 01:02 PM
EVERYONE PRAY FOR "MOCUS" HE IS THE REALL TRAGADEY!
We are all to blame, we have all seen but turned away because it is easier. We have even let poor "MOCUS" down! GOD loves him too! The children are home now! Lets heal the hurt not feed off it! God have Mercy on us all! posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 30, 2006 at 01:35 PM
Remember the days when we got up in the morning, did our chores and went out to play, only to return at dinner time? I lived in the boondocks, so that's how our summers went. Our parents gave us the rules. We knew where we were allowed to play and where we weren't. There was the Friant-Kern canal running right through the dairy property where I grew up. Not to mention the Calloway canal and endless irrigation ditches, and not one of us drowned. But that doesn't mean we didn't take stupid chances. Well, I didn't. But that doesn't mean other kids didn't take stupid chances. I can remember watching horrified as two boys, both dead now coincidently, rode on a pumping unit. We rode bicycles, horses and motorcycles. Each one of us was hurt in one way or another while riding one of the aforementioned. It didn't make our parents unfit or negligent. We had stitches, broke bones, I had very serious road rash after being thrown from a horse while in my bathing suit. And then, a friend was blown up while putting an explosive in a pipe. Not on "our" dairy, on his parents dairy. The friend was my high school sweetheart and first husband's best friend. His mother was in the house, his dad was in the barn, probably milking the cows. It happened in the spring of 1970, I was almost 14. I'll never forget it, nor will I ever forget the impact it had on all our lives. My children's father had been asked to go over to the boy's house after school to work on a motorcycle. He said he couldn't. The weather was turning hot, and he needed to work on his bedroom cooler. He often blamed himself. Saying if he'd gone over there, they would have worked on the motorcycle and his friend would have lived. I would then tell him if he'd gone over there, he probably would have died too. Blame is something these parents will find in themselves for the rest of their lives. They don't need us to do it for them. They will be plagued with what ifs and if Olly's until the day they die. One day while riding in the car, my youngest son, about 8 at the time asked me what would have happened if his dad had gone over there to work on the motorcycle that day. After thinking about it for a moment, I told him that I would probably be riding in the car alone.
posted by
Hardliner4freedom
on Aug 30, 2006 at 01:41 PM
I don't remember Mocus ever claiming to be a Christian. He just defends whatever he thinks liberals are attacking, and attacks whatever he thinks liberals are defending.
In other words, Mocus lets liberals do his thinking for him. :-)
posted by
heapcoup
on Aug 30, 2006 at 01:46 PM
From the most recent news report the round is a 40mm grenade of the type used once used in the M79 grenade launcher and used currently in the Mk19 and M203 grenade launchers.
The propellent was removed, but the grenade was still live. The explosion is not very big, but can be lethal within 50 meters. The round was obviously STOLEN from a range or ammo dump. National Guard armories do not have such ordnance in their vaults. Inert ordnance for training purposes are all painted BLUE. Any color other than that is live and lethal; even smoke. The fellow who owned this thing should be investigated thouroughly. It is not very easy to steal rounds from a range in California; all soldiers are searched and the casings are counted. This goes for all small arms, grenades and blasting caps. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 01:49 PM
You are right rhodaib, Moco 1 ( affectionately referred to as boogerbutt ) needs prayer every bit as much as we do.
Take nothing for granted is good advice. It only takes a moment for what we treasure to be gone. Even Moco would be missed. - - Somehow - -Somewhere. posted by
TomW
on Aug 30, 2006 at 02:07 PM
I can't imagine what their parents must be going through. I wish them all the best in the coming months and years.
posted by
antiextremism
on Aug 30, 2006 at 02:09 PM
Geez, is there anything that gets posted by you that isn't because of commie liberals, Mocus?
From what I have read, some guy thought that the shell was harmless. That WAS a moment of idiocy. Even if it was as inert as a bottle cap, you don't give kids the idea that playing with munitions is okay....ANYTIME.....harmless or not. How many kids have been killed by an unloaded gun? Any parent or guardian that saw the kids playing with it are culpable also. Having said that, I'm sure nobody feels worse than him, with the exception of the kid's parents. It was a huge mistake that will have to be lived with forever. Protecting children is everyone's obligation. My deepest sympathies for the victims, their families, and everyone who was affected by this tragedy. posted by
hardschool
on Aug 30, 2006 at 02:16 PM
I am the uncle of Jenie Klawitter. How dare any of you pass judgement in any shape or form. You were not there, the only story you have is the one the media gives you. I place no blame anywhere, it was a mistake gone horribly wrong. Any one who wishes to place blame do so somewhere else, or keep it to yourself. You should be ashamed, we are all suffering enough, we dont need you, or anybody, to make this harder for us. My sister has not slept yet she is in shambles, she has lost a child, life will go on for you, but not so easy for her. She will never see her child again. Keep your comments to yourself. This has nothing to do with politics, religion, or anything else. Our family thanks you for any and all kind words and thoughts you have givin.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 02:23 PM
Jenie was a classmate of my grandson. He always made it a point to tell her goodbye after school. She had such a sweet smile that it was no wonder he was drawn to be friends with her.
Our prayers go out to the families and friends of the children. May God give you strength and love in the days ahead. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 02:24 PM
I once saw one of my older brothers take the copper top off a .22 bullet (who knows how he came to have it). He smashed it with a hammer to make a fake penny. A penny would buy a piece of candy back then. My mom was at work and the babysitter was inside, so we younger kids, (my little sister, little brother and me), picked took one of the bullets (my brother had probably traded a frog for it) and struck it with a hammer. We are lucky to have survived with our hearing intact. Gee, that thing made a LOUD noise when it exploded! 40 years later I still remember. My mother would have had a heart attack if she had known and we were smart enough not to tell. These are the things that kids do. Assume that they can and do get into everything you own, especially if you aren't in the same room. I watched my own children play outside and they still did stupid kid things. Hmmm, somewhere along the line I seem to remember an inert grenade the boys (my older brothers)found somewhere and a set of handcuffs that my little sister successfully used to handcuff herself to her bedframe, thus missing school for a day while my brothers searched for the key! Poor mom, if she knew half the stuff we innocently did - she'd probably kick our butts still today! Terrible event - but clearly an accident.
posted by
TomW
on Aug 30, 2006 at 02:30 PM
Take care of yourself and your family, hardschool. Let them know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 02:55 PM
Maybe using the "spell check" before posting your comments would help get your points across more effectively ;-)
posted by
angie
on Aug 30, 2006 at 03:15 PM
My deepest sympathy's go out to the two families that lost there precious kids, may god be with you guys!!!
Angie M. posted by
steveeswenson
on Aug 30, 2006 at 03:19 PM
This is nothing more than a tragedy spawned by unfortunate ignorance. Until today, it would have been an ignorance I shared. The only difference with me is I wouldn't give anything like ammunition to a child for any reason. But the man who did thought it was completely harmless. He had no idea that there would be any explosive materials in the tip of the round. I saw his own personal devastation and regret over this incident. As for where the children were when this happened, they were in a fenced in front yard of an apartment complex playing together as they do everyday. If my children lived on that street and they were 7 to 12 years old, that would have been a fine place with me for them to play. My prayers do go out to these families. posted by
antiextremism
on Aug 30, 2006 at 03:30 PM
Well said Steve.
posted by
rhodaib
on Aug 30, 2006 at 03:48 PM
"TRAGEDY" Spelling corrected! posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 03:53 PM
I just heard the brother of the boy who died on the radio news. He was trying to explain what happened and was crying. My heart broke. What a horrible thing to live through. I just hope he won't continue to blame himself, you could hear it in his voice. If any of his family is reading this, please give him a hug from me and tell him it wasn't his fault.
Steph posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 05:00 PM
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in the neighborhood. This is such a tragic loss. I also feel for the gentleman who owned the ammunition - he couldn't have possibly known it was still dangerous. I hope all the angry folks responding to this story stop pointing fingers, asking questions and just hug their little loved ones tight. Accidents can be horrible. I have cried with every update today and will certainly cry when I hug my own 6-year old tonight.
posted by
marieklaw
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:48 PM
My name is Gary J. Klawitter I just have one thing to say to everybody that is on here just talking out the side of your neck. You should thank God that it was not your kid that this happened to !!!!!!!!!!! If you think that you can watch your kid every second of the day then I would have to say that you are the idiot !!!!!!!!!!!! Just plan ignorant !!!!!! One day you will find out what I mean and feel the pain that my family is feeling. None of you are so holy that you can judge another person so keep your rude Insensitive comments to your self !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My neice Jeni Marie Klawitter will pray for all of you from heaven !!!!! I just have one last thing to say Jeni I Love you so very much and thank God you are with him and not in this cruel world. Please look after and pray for all the lost souls in this world. I will see you one day so we can swim & play forever!! Love Always your Uncle Klaw you are my baby girl !!!!!!
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:08 PM
This family does not need us to judge or condem them they need our prayers. no one will judge them any harder than they judge themselves. When I lost my 11 year old daughter 23 years ago because of a tragic accident it was the prayers of family and friends that got me through. If you have never had a lost so devastating nothing in your life will ever be the same count your blessings. Every tragedy such as this makes you relive your loss. Please think before you speak the if you ever have to eat these unkind remark it will be very bitter. My heart felt prayer are with this family and friends. A grieveing Mom.
posted by
bakonative
on Aug 30, 2006 at 10:56 PM
Too bad the guy who gave them the shell has a record for being a drunk and weed smoker. Who knows what he was smoking that day or how many brain cells he has lost in his life. Regardless, my sympathy to all the family - what a tragic event - I was in tears when I heard about it.
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