27-year-old bank employee killed in building explosion

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - A 27-year-old man was found dead late Tuesday inside the Realty building where a natural gas explosion occurred in the downtown district of Youngstown, Ohio, police said.

Youngstown Police Lt. Mohammad Awad said the body of the victim, a Chase Bank employee, was recovered by firefighters. He was seen inside the building right before the blast.

He was found around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Mahoning County Coroner David Kennedy identified the victim as Akil Drake. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner will determine a cause of death.

Mercy Health, the Youngstown-area hospital, said they were treating seven victims from the building explosion, with one person in critical condition.

Awad said that all other people in this incident have been accounted for.

In a statement, JPMorgan Chase said they were mourning their colleague. “Our hearts go out to their family as well as our injured employees, their families and other affected by this tragedy. We will continue to work with local officials to support them.

“During this tragic time, the Youngstown Police Department would like to extend its condolences to the family of the deceased and asks that the media respect their privacy,” Awad said.

According to Youngstown fire dispatch, all fire crews in the city were called to the scene of the “critical incident” in the downtown area after the explosion due to a gas-related issue at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Witnesses in the area told WOIO they heard a loud boom.

Enbridge Gas Ohio said they have “shut off gas to the entire block as a safety precaution. The cause (of the explosion) is not known at this time. An investigation will be led by the State Fire Marshal’s office, and we will assist in any way we can. This process can take time. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this event.”

Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown gave his thanks to the first responders on scene of the explosion.

“Everyone who came to help from all over ... I want to say thank you from the citizens of Youngstown, Ohio,” said Brown. “I got so many calls from the governor, the senators, all over.”

Brown and Fire Chief Barry Finley do not know when that section of downtown will reopen.

“However long it takes,” said Finley.

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