Visalia Pipe Bomb Explosion Victim Talks to Action News | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Visalia, CA The 31-year old has what looks like a large, red rash on his right arm, which he believes is from gun powder exploding, a couple small scars under his left eye and he still can't use several fingers on his left hand, which he says felt the vibrations of the bomb go off.

/*Aaron Mustin*/, along with his father, and brother ... walked into work on Wednesday just 24 hours after Aaron opened up a package that exploded. It's still not known who mailed the device to his family's air conditioning store. The Mustin's said their office still smelled like gun powder when they arrived. Aaron described the moment's right after the device exploded, "First thing, I was in a state of shock. I knew exactly what it was when it went off. I yelled 'Pipe bomb!' It's amazing it didn't touch my face. I had one or two specs on my eye. I was leaning over it."

Frank Parisi, who owns a business next door, saw the package being delivered. Minutes later he says Aaron was in front of his doorway.

Parisi said, "I saw Aaron's arm it was a little bit bleeding his right arm was bleeding a little bit his arm was pitted with something his hands were full of smoke. His face had a little bit of smoke in his face."

The U.S. Postal Inspector set up a command post behind the Visalia Police Department on Wednesday. They said whoever sent the bomb faces federal felony charges and 20-year federal prison sentence if convicted.

Aaron's father, Dan, can't think of anyone who would want to send a bomb to their business. He says their family is still shocked by what happened. Aaron has a two year old son and another child on the way. Holding back tears, his father, Dan said, "I lost my wife eight years ago and to think I almost lost my son. It shouldn't happen to any American. The only reason he's alive is that the whole bomb didn't go off."

Witnesses say there were several bombs in the package that didn't go off so the explosion may have been intended to be much worse.

The U.S. Postal Inspector's office was going to have a press conference but say they're stilling waiting for more information and may have an update for us Thursday.

/*Dan Mustin*/ says he has no hatred or bad feelings towards whoever sent the bomb, even though it could have taken his son's life.

Visalia Pipe Bomb Victim Talks to Action News