The owner of a suburban Detroit business that caught fire and exploded, killing a man, was arrested at a New York airport as he was preparing to depart for Hong Kong on a one-way ticket. Noor Noel Kestou, 31, of Commerce Township, was brought back to Michigan and arraigned on Thursday on an involuntary manslaughter charge. The fire and explosion occurred in Clinton Township and involved a distributor for the vaping industry called Goo. More than 100,000 vape pens were stored on-site at the time of the incident, and a truckload of butane canisters had arrived at the building within a week of the explosion, with more than half of the stock still present when the fire began. Turner Lee Salter, 19, who was about a quarter of a mile away, was killed after being struck by a nitrous oxide cannister propelled through the air by the explosion.
Authorities received information on April 20 that Kestou was attempting to fly to Hong Kong, leading to his arrest at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido stated that Kestou was a suspect from the beginning due to his ownership of the business. Kestou’s ultimate intentions remain unclear, with questions surrounding whether he was attempting to evade responsibility for the incident by leaving the country. Goo had received a township occupancy permit in September 2022 to operate as a retail store for vape products, according to Clinton Township’s Building Department.
Kestou has been released after posting a $500,000 bond, with the condition that he must wear a GPS tether. His attorney, James Thomas, declined to comment on the case. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for May 7 in Clinton Township District Court. Lucido emphasized that anyone who owns a business and experiences a tragedy like this must be considered a suspect. The case raises concerns about the safety and regulation of businesses in the vaping industry, as well as the potential consequences of improper storage and handling of volatile materials.
The tragic incident has brought attention to the dangers posed by businesses in the vaping industry, as well as the importance of proper safety measures and regulations. The sudden explosion and resulting death of Turner Lee Salter have highlighted the need for thorough investigations and accountability in such cases. Kestou’s arrest at the airport while attempting to leave the country has raised suspicions about his intentions and the potential consequences of his actions. Authorities are working to uncover the full extent of his involvement in the incident, and the upcoming hearing will shed further light on the details of the case.
As the investigation into the fire and explosion at the Goo facility continues, questions remain about the circumstances leading up to the tragic event. The presence of a significant amount of volatile materials on-site raises concerns about the safety and compliance of businesses in the vaping industry. With Kestou now facing involuntary manslaughter charges, there is a push for accountability and justice for the victim, as well as a renewed focus on improving safety protocols in similar businesses. The outcome of the case will have implications for the regulation and oversight of the vaping industry and serve as a reminder of the potential risks associated with improper handling of hazardous materials.
