Shoppers and employees at a Goodwill store in Palatka, Florida, were forced to evacuate after a live hand grenade was discovered in a donation bin.
The alarming find prompted an immediate response from law enforcement. “Authorities immediately secured the scene and evacuated the Goodwill in Palatka, a city about 50 miles south of Jacksonville,” officials reported.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad safely retrieved the device and detonated it remotely in a secure location. According to Goodwill spokesperson Liz Morgan, the grenade appeared to have been donated. “An employee discovered it in a bin near the donation door,” Morgan told First Coast News.
This isn’t the first time such a dangerous item has been found at a Florida Goodwill. Morgan recalled that in 2018, “several grenades were discovered after being donated to a Goodwill store on Jacksonville’s Southside.”
The Palatka Police Department urged caution for anyone donating items. “We want to remind the community to thoroughly check all items before donating, ensuring that hazardous items, such as explosives, firearms, or ammunition, are not accidentally included,” the department said.
They also stressed the importance of safety if suspicious devices are found: “If you ever locate something that appears to be a hand grenade or other explosive device, do not touch or handle it. Immediately evacuate the area and call law enforcement.”
