Macon County man injured by making bomb; investigation continues after pipe bomb detonated

MACON COUNTY, TN (WSMV) - The THP Bomb Squad and ATF are assisting the Macon County Sheriff's Department in diffusing a confirmed pipe bomb that was located in the garage of a home on Rocky Mound Road.

The incident began around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. The girlfriend of 30-year-old Cecil Masters drove him to a nearby ambulance base, and told officials that Masters was loading shotgun shells and had blown his hand up.

When investigators went to the home where the accident occurred, they found a live pipe bomb approximately 6-10 inches long and 2 inches in diameter in the garage. The shed's door was open when they arrived on scene.

Macon County Sheriff's Office said later Thursday morning that the story Masters and his girlfriend told about the incident was false. Sheriff Mark Gammons tells News4 that a bomb went off in Masters' hand when he was assembling it.

Masters was taken to a hospital in Nashville for treatment of his injuries. The Sheriff's Office says Masters has been charged in the past with a few misdemeanors such as public intoxication, evading arrest, and DUIs.

According to dispatchers, the area was secured with multiple units on scene, with THP bringing a bomb-detonating robot. Investigators put concrete around the bomb to keep it still and in tact in case it managed to get shot up in the air. The robot managed to set off the bomb once and investigators believed the bomb had not opened up enough to render it safe so they reignited it manually and detonated it again to open it up.

Investigators have a search warrant and are planning to search the house and garage to find out why Masters was making bombs or for any literature that shows how to make them.

No arrests so far have been made in this case.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to News4 for updates.