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Possible Car Bomb in Michigan Seriously Injures Attorney, Two Sons

Possible Car Bomb in Monroe Michigan Seriously Injures Man, Two Children

A car burns near Interstate 75 Sept. 20, 2011, in Monroe, Mich., after it exploded, seriously injuring a local attorney and his two sons. (AP Photo/The Monroe Evening News)

MONROE, Mich. (The Blaze/AP) — Investigators on Wednesday were poring over the blackened remains of a vehicle that exploded on a Michigan street, trying to determine if the blast, which seriously injured the man and two children inside, was caused by a bomb or some sort of mechanical failure.

Monroe police initially said they were investigating the Tuesday evening explosion as a possible car bombing. But police Lt. Charles Abel said later Wednesday the investigation was “being listed as a car fire with an explosion.” He didn’t discount that a bomb could have caused the blast.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were examining the wreck, and police said the agency would likely take the lead in the investigation. The ATF did not immediately respond to Wednesday phone requests seeking comment. Authorities were expected to hold a news conference later in the day.

The blast occurred on a tree-lined street under a highway in Monroe, which is about 35 miles southwest of Detroit. Television news footage showed that the vehicle had been turned into a charred shell. On Wednesday morning, the only sign of the fire at the scene was charred pavement where the vehicle burned.

Police said the only people injured were the three occupants, a man and two children, who were in serious condition at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio, which is about 20 miles south of Monroe. According to the Monroe Evening News, the driver was local attorney Erik G. Chappell and his two sons, believed to be ages 11 and 13.

“This was not an intent to injure; this was an intent to kill,” a family friend told the Evening News, who declined to be identified. “Everybody’s going to make it, but there’s a lot of heartache ahead. I’m still in shock.”

Sources told the Evening News that Chappell, a divorce lawyer, has been receiving threats:

He is a divorce attorney also involved with several high-profile Monroe County cases, including hot dog stand owners who sued the city in 2009 after they were banned from operating their carts.

It has not been determined if a suspect in the bombing has been developed, but police sources said there are so-called persons of interest.

It is believed the device was placed underneath the passenger side of the Chappell car. One of the boys was sitting in the passenger seat and suffered serious lower extremity injuries, especially to his legs.

The bomb may have contained shrapnel, because all three victims suffered wounds from flying debris, officials said.

There were no witnesses in the vicinity where the bomb exploded. It was believed that Mr. Chappell was able to drag his sons from the car, which quickly became engulfed in flames. The shell of the car is being stored at a secure area.

An FBI spokeswoman in Detroit referred questions to local police and the ATF. State police, which also assisted, referred questions to local police.

Monroe is a city of more than 20,000 that is one of Michigan’s oldest communities. It has a historic downtown and is home to furniture maker La-Z-Boy Inc.

Comments (53)

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  • wolfinshdo
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 8:31pm

    This could go either way. It could be someone thinking the 10G’s to take him out is much cheaper then the 10 million the ex will get for sitting home and letting the nannies take care of the children. I know I gave it some thought on some of the darker nights during my 30 month long divorce. On the other hand Union thugs are not above killing someone to send a message either……

    Report Post » wolfinshdo  
  • Carol Ingian
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 7:54pm

    My heart aches for Attorney Chappell and his sons. I wish them the best of luck in recovering.
    It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out who is responsible. Most likely it would be a recent case where the opposition was especially p!ssed at the judge’s decision, or someone with a lot to hide with a big case in the near future.

    Report Post »  
    • SeekingTheTRUTH2
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 11:16pm

      Ive just started to read all the comments left by others. and I just wanted to say Thank You for not going the direction as the other went. Thank you for using common senses when it come to something like this. What we All should do instead of pointing fingers at who ever. We need to pray for the family. Pray for the Farther and for his sons that got hurt.

      Report Post »  
  • BitterClingerInTexas
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 4:11pm

    this smells of mafia all they way. think about it. the mafia would pull a stunt like this because they KNOW people would instantly think muslim. On the other hand, the mafia never flew two planes in the world trade centers either. Mafia doesn’t want attention. Crazy Muslim Terrorists DO want attention. Not to mention that the mafia is strong union and Democrat supporters, nah nothing to see here, move along, move along. These aren’t the Socialists your looking for.

    Report Post » BitterClingerInTexas  
    • rangerp
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 4:31pm

      sit back and wait. Do not jump to conclusions, do not point fingers.

      Libs and trolls are going to patrol the waters, looking for stuff they can use against you. Be careful what you say until you know the truth.

      Once the facts hit, then run with it.

      But what the heck, I will violate my own advice….. I think a tea party member got secret messages from Sara Palin to blow up their car. It was a racist act, done to make Obama look bad.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • rangerp
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 4:35pm

      car bomb, or car bomb?

      There are two types. I am no expert, but dealt with this often in iraq. there is the bomb placed under a car, and is designed to kill the driver and or passengers.

      There is the car that is loaded with much more explosives, and the vehicle actually becomes the container for the bomb, and the bomb is used to take out a building, large crowd, market place, convoy…..

      From what I see here, I think this was the first type. WIth the second type, you generally do not have much of a car left, it blows pieces for hundreds of yards.

      Report Post » rangerp  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 3:45pm

    No burn North America vs that is interesting. What is that all about on his webpage.

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
  • Jumper
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 3:32pm

    As much I would like to point the finger at some nasty Muslim terrorist, I’m going to have to go with BRIZZ on this one. He’s a divorce attorney, there’s no telling how many people would like to mess this guy up. Even if he never screwed anybody accidentally, on purpose, or by just being a bad lawyer, and I’m not saying he was, I have no idea, but he’s a DIVORCE ATTORNEY!! At least half of the people involved in all his cases are going to feel like they got the shaft, it‘s the nature of the business he’s in.

    Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 3:22pm

    According the law office website he is not just a divorce attorney, not sure where the press got this idea.

    http://lydenlaw.com/Attorneys/chappell.htm

    “diverse litigation and trial practice in Federal and State Courts” “Although the majority of Mr. Chappell’s cases are business disputes, Mr. Chappell also maintains a Family Law practice and will evaluate all potential cases, including personal injury or criminal cases on a case by case basis.”

    This smells of the unions to me. If it is not, I will apologize… some day.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • atechgeek
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 3:15pm

    Brizz .. who made you Pope of this Dump ?

    Report Post »  
  • michael48
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:54pm

    hoffas paw-prints…unionize hot dog stands you SOBs…

    Report Post »  
  • RoBoTech
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:54pm

    Large enclave of Muslims nearby.
    just saying.

    Report Post »  
  • Harold B
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:39pm

    Muslim or not we see how Islam is already influencing our country.

    Report Post »  
  • AB5r
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:28pm

    Whenever you hear car bomb or that sort of thing the normal reaction is to immediately think Muslims, since the founder of their religion was a terrorist who advocated terrorism for all followers of his religion, but it is easy to forget that other infidels will sometimes engage in similar attacks for entirely non-religious purposes. If we were not allowing the spread of Islam in the West, hearing a story like this one would first assume a mob hit or some such thing.

    Report Post » AB5r  
    • SeekingTheTRUTH2
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 11:58pm

      Muslims is a group not a religion. like Jewish or Christian or Baptist. It covers a wide verity of things and people. And has been around a very long time.
      The Founder, Mohammed. was the founder of the religion of Islam, and is considered by Muslims to be a messenger and prophet of God, the last law-bearer in a series of Islamic prophets, and, by most Muslims, the last prophet of God as taught by the Quran.

      just so you know (in case you didnt) i found this info on Wikipedia. if you wish to look up yourself.

      Report Post »  
  • v12tommy
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:26pm

    I highly doubt it was a car bomb. They said they hadn’t ruled out a car bomb, but that doesn’t mean it was one. Sounds like some local media trying to get hype. If it was a car bomb, they are awefully close to Detroit, so it could have been religiously motivated or even gang activity, but I think it was just some catastrophic system failure that caused it. Maybe a spark from the in tank fuel pump or something. Some people just get way to carried away with the blame game without knowing any details.

    Report Post » v12tommy  
    • monroeresident
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 9:10pm

      v12tommy
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:26pm
      “I highly doubt it was a car bomb. They said they hadn’t ruled out a car bomb, but that doesn’t mean it was one. Sounds like some local media trying to get hype.”

      it’s been confirmed, it was a car bomb, and no, the “local media” wasn’t in it for hype.

      v12tommy
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:26pm
      “If it was a car bomb, they are awefully close to Detroit, so it could have been religiously motivated or even gang activity, but I think it was just some catastrophic system failure that caused it.”

      We are approximately 40 minutes south of Detroit proper…we are a mere 20 minutes north of Toledo proper. By stating you believe it was “religiously motivated” you are suggesting that because we are within an hour of Dearborn, MI (where the largest population of Muslim reside) and within an hour of Canton, MI (where the 2nd largest population of Muslim reside) that it might be a Muslim’s fault. I highly doubt that you are correct sir. We do not have the type of “gang activity” that larger cities have (and for that we are VERY thankful).

      v12tommy
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:26pm
      “Maybe a spark from the in tank fuel pump or something. Some people just get way to carried away with the blame game without knowing any details.”

      True to your own words, you are thusly carried away with speculation when you probably have never even visited Monroe, MI. or know anything about our city or our residen

      Report Post »  
  • eaglenva
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:20pm

    ATF just confirmed, with-in the last hour, that yes it was a car bomb

    Report Post » eaglenva  
  • TheBloodOfTyrants
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:17pm

    Wait…. if they’re not sure if it was, in fact, a car bomb, who labeled the video, “Car Bomb- E. Elm near I-75?”

    Report Post » TheBloodOfTyrants  
  • BlackAce41
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:06pm

    I think some was upset of the Hotdogs in some one Else’s Wife.

    Report Post » BlackAce41  
  • TheBloodOfTyrants
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:06pm

    No, Muslims would have gotten it right, and we’d be hearing about more than an injured divorce lawyer. This is homegrown, and it’s going to motivate others, and someone’s bound to get it right. Looks like that thing was maybe supposed to go off UNDER the bridge? Makes sense, anyway. Trying times ahead.

    Report Post » TheBloodOfTyrants  
  • Sayre
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:58pm

    No idea what caused this? No problem, we can take our lead from Mayor Bloomberg… maybe it was some conservative who didn’t like the new health care law! No, No… it was Bush’s fault!

    Report Post » Sayre  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:49pm

    It was a Muslim with another bomb in his turbin hiding under the car.

    gmoneytx  
  • eaglenva
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:48pm

    Brizz – good job on keeping it honest, thanks.

    No witnesses, no proof of a bomb and he’s a divorce attorney. Just enough information to light the short fuse.

    Report Post » eaglenva  
    • DrFrost
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:15pm

      Divorce attorney.

      “It is believed the device was placed underneath the passenger side of the Chappell car.”

      I hope this was an accident but it just screams “retaliation” to me.

      Report Post »  
  • discus02
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:29pm

    Lets not start pointing fingers at the Muslims. There are plenty of loonies in this country.

    Report Post »  
  • thomas242007
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:27pm

    religion of peace at it again

    Report Post » thomas242007  
    • Brizz
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:34pm

      Any brain activity behind your posts?

      Report Post » Brizz  
  • thomas242007
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:23pm

    I would be willing to bet this is the religioin of peace at it again

    Report Post » thomas242007  
    • Brizz
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:31pm

      Really?
      Please read the story, watch the video, research online.
      No mention of religion, skin color, etc…

      Report Post » Brizz  
    • Camera Mom
      Posted on September 22, 2011 at 11:11am

      Thomas you are right. This town is just south of Dearborn. Dearbornistan has a population of 46% muslim. They have been loosing law suits galore. I am sure the case about the hot dogs is the best clue. If Americans do not wake up and see that Islam is here to conquer then they are willfully blind.

      Report Post » Camera Mom  
  • Revere2
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:18pm

    Lets see if we get the truth about this.

    Report Post » Revere2  
  • Lover of America
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:14pm

    They’re here……

    Report Post »  
    • Brizz
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:23pm

      They?

      Report Post » Brizz  
    • fatjack
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:13pm

      Brizz, A dumbass can be easily defined as someone that asks stupid questions while aspiring to be a smartass

      Report Post » fatjack  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:13pm

    Isn’t that getting up close to Muslim territory, or am I mistaken. Am looking forward to finding out if it was a car bomb. I hope that garbage is not going to start here, but my “feelings” tell me it’s going to become common. We have so much to look forward to, but I believe war is coming to our streets in the fight of Islam versus the rest of the world. sorry if I sound so negative today, but am seeing the “blue” side of this all, just had fusion in my neck and a few days away from the Blaze has shown the world is not getting better.

    Report Post »  
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