A woman from Long Island has been convicted after prosecutors said she threw a lit stick of dynamite into a bedroom where her boyfriend was sleeping, leaving him with devastating injuries.
According to News 12 Long Island, Keyonna Waddell, 35, was found guilty of first-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon following a jury trial. The violent incident happened in March 2024 at a home in Deer Park.
Prosecutors said Waddell and her boyfriend had argued before the attack. Later that night, while the victim was asleep in his bedroom, Waddell allegedly lit a stick of dynamite and threw it into the room. The man reportedly woke up to the sound of a burning fuse and noticed flames coming from the explosive device near his bed.
In an attempt to protect himself, the victim grabbed the explosive and tried to throw it away. Seconds later, it detonated in his hand. The powerful blast caused catastrophic injuries, blowing off most of his hand and causing severe damage to his arm.
Emergency responders rushed the victim to a nearby hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries. Doctors were ultimately forced to amputate part of his arm due to the extent of the injuries.
During the trial, prosecutors argued the attack was deliberate and extremely dangerous, pointing to evidence that tensions between the couple had escalated prior to the explosion. Officials described the case as one of the most disturbing domestic violence incidents they had seen due to the use of an explosive device.
Waddell now faces up to 25 years in prison when she is sentenced, which is scheduled for May 2026. Authorities say the case serves as a powerful reminder of how domestic disputes can quickly turn into life-threatening violence.
