Man finds live mortar shell in grandpa's things

[January 06, 2009]  GREELEY, Colo. (AP) -- A Colorado man sorting through his late grandfather's belongings found a bombshell, sort of: a live mortar round from the Korean War era.

A bomb squad detonated the shell at an undisclosed site. No one was hurt. Police said Monday the grandson discovered the shell in a firearms cabinet at his grandfather's home just outside Greeley on Friday.

Police Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said the grandfather was in the military during the Korean War but police don't know how he came to have the shell.

Tymkowych says the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating.

Neither the grandfather's nor the grandson's name has been released.

[Associated Press]

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