Father-to-be killed, brother injured when gender reveal device explodes

By: CNN

Posted: Feb 22, 2021 4:49 PM CDT

By WABC Staff

LIBERTY, NY (WABC) -- A Sullivan County man was killed and his brother injured when a gender reveal device they were building exploded.

It happened just before noon Sunday, with state police responding to a report of an explosion.

Authorities say the investigation revealed that 28-year-old Christopher Pekny was building a device to be used at a child gender reveal party.

The device exploded, resulting in Pekny's death. State police confirm he was the father-to-be.

His brother, 27-year-old Michael Pekny, was transported to Garnet Medical Center in Middletown.

The incident remains under investigation by the New York State Police and the New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit.