Mount Clemens, Michigan – A businessman from suburban Detroit faces charges of involuntary manslaughter following an explosion at a building he owned that resulted in the death of another man. Noor Noel Kestou, 31, of Commerce Township, was charged in connection to the incident that took the life of 19-year-old Turner Lee Salter. The explosion, which occurred on March 4, sent a nitrous oxide cannister flying through the air, striking Salter about a quarter of a mile away.
Authorities reported that the building where the explosion took place housed a distributor for the vaping industry known as Goo. More than 100,000 vape pens were stored on-site, and a truckload of butane canisters had arrived within a week of the explosion. The force of the blast propelled cannisters up to 2 miles away, with over half of the stock still present when the fire began.
In September 2022, Goo had received an occupancy permit from the township for the building as a retail location for a “smoke shop/vape store.” Kestou’s attorney, James Thomas, refrained from commenting on the case. A probable cause hearing is set for May 7 in Clinton Township District Court, and Kestou’s bond was established at $500,000 cash/surety only.
Authorities are expected to hold a news conference on Friday morning to further discuss the details of the case. As the investigation unfolds, questions linger about the circumstances surrounding the explosion and the safety protocols in place at the building. The tragic incident has led to a closer examination of regulations within the vaping industry and the potential risks associated with storing large quantities of vape products. The community remains in shock over the loss of a young life and awaits further developments in the case.