Phoenix, Arizona: Police Seek Man Who Tossed a Shock Absorber Into a Bonfire That Badly Injured a Teen

Phoenix police are asking for help identifying the man who threw a car shock absorber into a bonfire at a desert Halloween party on Oct. 30, setting off an explosion that seriously injured a 16-year-old girl and hurt several other people around the fire.

The blast went off at about 10:30 p.m. in a desert area near New River Road and Saddle Mountain Road, close to Lake Pleasant in northwest Phoenix, police said. A large group of young adults had gathered around the bonfire when someone tossed the shock absorber into the flames. The part exploded three to five minutes later and sent debris flying into the crowd.

Struck in the face at ten feet

The girl was standing about 10 feet from the fire when the shrapnel hit her in the face and knocked her unconscious, her brother told KPHO, the CBS affiliate in Phoenix. Friends and strangers at the party moved in to help. One girl performed a sternum rub after the teen lost her pulse for about a minute, her brother said, and friends drove toward medical help while others called 911. She was then airlifted to a burn center.

"There was a lot of blood," her brother told KPHO. "It was like a scene out of a horror movie."

A long recovery ahead

The girl suffered a broken jaw, multiple facial fractures, missing teeth and burns, according to a fundraiser her family set up to help with her care. She has had facial reconstructive surgery and faces several more operations and dental procedures, the family said. She is awake but cannot speak, communicates with her family by writing, and has had trouble breathing through the pain, her brother said.

"I really don't understand why he would do something of the sort. It makes no sense," he told KPHO.

Police have not released the girl's name. Her family has identified her publicly in their fundraiser and has spoken to local reporters about her condition.

Police renew their appeal

In a public statement on Wednesday, Nov. 4, Phoenix police said they are still seeking information about the explosion. They asked anyone who attended the gathering, and anyone who has photos, videos or social media content from that night, to come forward. Investigators told PEOPLE they believe the man who threw the part left before officers arrived. Police described him as a white male between 16 and 25 years old. No arrest has been announced.

Anyone with information can contact Phoenix police or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.