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Teen Wounded by Explosive in Central Park Returns to Virginia

By Shaye Weaver | July 28, 2016 12:58pm
 Connor Golden, 18, was wounded when he jumped down from a boulder in Central Park on July 3, 2016 and landed on a homemade explosive, according to officials.
Connor Golden, 18, was wounded when he jumped down from a boulder in Central Park on July 3, 2016 and landed on a homemade explosive, according to officials.
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CENTRAL PARK — The college student who lost part of his leg after stepping on an explosive in Central Park on the Fourth of July weekend has gone home to Virginia.

A GoFundMe page that has already raised more than $67,000 for Connor Golden's medical bills announced on Monday that he began his recovery and rehabilitation at home in Virginia.

"The Golden family is deeply grateful to the health care professionals in New York who cared for Connor and to the many individuals who made the family’s stay in New York as comfortable as possible," the page states. "The family is thankful, too, for the many New York residents who have been among the donors to this fund."

The NYPD Detective Bureau announced on July 15 that traces of TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, and other chemicals were found in the explosive, all of which can easily be bought in hardware stores by a hobbyist.

But last week, Connor Golden's father, Kevin Golden, addressed the media, saying the blast was caused by a bomb and not homemade fireworks, which was what the NYPD originally blamed the explosion on.

Golden, who's from Virginia and turned 19 in the hospital, was visiting the park on summer vacation with his friends on July 3 when he jumped from a rock near East 60th Street and Fifth Avenue shortly before 11 a.m. and landed on the explosive.

He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where his left leg had to be amputated mid-shin. It took three surgeries to complete the amputation, according to Bellevue officials.

To help in his recovery, the parents of the Oakton High School chorus in Virginia started the GoFundMe page and has given regular updates about Golden's wellbeing.

"At this time, as they begin the long journey of assisting Connor’s in his continued recovery, the family requests privacy and continued prayers," they wrote.

The NYPD said on Thursday that there has been no update in the case.

The NYPD's Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $12,500 for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person responsible for the explosion.