Authorities have arrested the owner of a suburban Detroit business that exploded and caught fire, resulting in the death of a man. Noor Noel Kestou, 31, was apprehended at a New York airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Hong Kong on a one-way ticket. The incident took place on March 4 in a Clinton Township building that housed a distributor for the vaping industry known as Goo. Turner Lee Salter, 19, was fatally struck by a nitrous oxide cannister propelled by the explosion, which sent cannisters flying up to 2 miles away. Kestou was charged with involuntary manslaughter upon his return to Michigan.
Reports indicate that over 100,000 vape pens were stored at the building where the fire and explosion occurred, with a truckload of butane canisters arriving just a week prior to the incident. More than half of the stock of butane canisters remained in the building at the time of the fire. Authorities were informed on April 20 that Kestou was attempting to flee to Hong Kong, prompting his arrest. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido stated that Kestou, as the owner of the business, was considered a suspect from the beginning, given the circumstances. Involuntary manslaughter is the highest charge currently filed against Kestou based on the available information and evidence.
Goo, the business owned by Kestou, had obtained an occupancy permit from Clinton Township in September 2022 for the building where the incident took place. The 26,700-square-foot location was designated for a vape store and smoke shop selling products related to vaping. Although the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, investigators believe it originated in the southwest corner of the building. Kestou has been released from jail after posting a $500,000 bond, with the condition that he must wear a GPS tether. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for May 7 in Clinton Township District Court. Efforts to reach Kestou’s attorney for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Prosecutor Lucido expressed uncertainty regarding Kestou’s intentions in attempting to leave the country, questioning whether his goal was to evade possible legal consequences or for other reasons. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with officials working to determine the exact circumstances that led to the fire and subsequent explosion. Kestou’s ownership of the business has placed him under suspicion, and authorities believe that he must be considered a suspect given the gravity of the situation. With Kestou facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, the case continues to unfold with the upcoming court proceedings shedding more light on the tragic events that transpired in Clinton Township.
