EAST MEADOW, NY – A Deer Park woman has been convicted in Suffolk County after a jury found her guilty of carrying out a violent attack that left her boyfriend with catastrophic injuries following the detonation of an explosive device inside his home.
According to Raymond A. Tierney, 35-year-old Keyonna Waddell was found guilty of Assault in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree after prosecutors presented evidence that she threw an explosive device into the victim’s bedroom while he was asleep.
The incident occurred on March 22, 2024, following an argument between the couple inside the victim’s apartment. After the dispute, the victim left the residence and told Waddell to leave. When he later returned home, there was no indication she was still there, and he went to sleep.
He was later awakened by a hissing sound and noticed a flame on the floor of his bedroom. As he got up to investigate, he saw what appeared to be an explosive device resembling a stick of dynamite. The victim initially attempted to extinguish it, but when that failed, he picked it up in an effort to remove it from the home.
Before he could get outside, the device detonated in his hand, causing severe injuries. Authorities said the blast resulted in the loss of his hand and required further amputation of part of his arm. The victim managed to make it outside to the driveway, where he saw Waddell fleeing the scene on foot.
He was transported by responding officers to Nassau University Medical Center for emergency treatment.
Investigators later determined that Waddell had allegedly made prior threats involving explosives in the months leading up to the attack. She was arrested the following day, March 23, 2024, after a police investigation.
Following a jury trial presided over by Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, Waddell was convicted on April 24, 2026, of both top charges, each classified as Class B violent felonies under New York law.
District Attorney Tierney described the case as an example of how domestic disputes can escalate into life-altering violence, emphasizing the seriousness of the attack and the outcome of the prosecution.
Waddell is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on May 27, 2026, where she faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
Key Facts and Details
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Keyonna Waddell, 35, of Deer Park |
| Charges | Assault in the First Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree |
| Incident Date | March 22, 2024 |
| Conviction Date | April 24, 2026 |
| Location | Deer Park, Suffolk County, NY |
| Victim Injuries | Loss of hand and partial arm amputation due to explosion |
| Weapon Used | Explosive device resembling dynamite |
| Prior Behavior | Alleged threats involving explosives before incident |
| Hospital | Nassau University Medical Center |
| Judge | Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz |
| Sentencing Date | May 27, 2026 |
| Potential Sentence | Up to 25 years in prison |
