Arrests made in Gulfport bomb discovery

GULFPORT, MIss. (WALA) - Two more people have been arrested in connection with the explosion that sent a Mississippi man to the hospital last month.

Federal investigators say the suspects were involved in a dangerous theft operation targeting military artillery for scrap metal.

Dale Johnson was severely injured in an explosion at a home in Gulfport last month.  

Johnson sent us exclusive video from his hospital bed.  This is what he said in the video on January 20.

"They up here right now talking to all my family and everything. I don't know what's going on, but I just wanted to tell them I was just cleaning junk trying to make money. I didn't know what it was. If I did I wouldn't have put no cut torch to it."

The explosion that landed Johnson in the USA Burn Unit resulted in two new arrests Tuesday night.

Johnson's uncle, 47-year-old Jimmy Wilson, and 48-year-old David Bangs are charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device. 

And, last week another uncle, Jack Wilson was also arrested. 

"I buy junk all the time. I've been in the junk business most of my life," Wilson said right after the explosion

But, Federal investigators said the military grade artillery they found on the property was stolen.

"What we believe happened were that these individuals were stealing these military grade munitions from an artillery range here in Mississippi, and they were trying to use the metal; the scrap metal that they were able to scavenge from the artillery range yard for and selling It for scrap metal.  That's what we believe happened," Agent Joel Lee said.

Johnson has been released from the hospital in Mobile, and he hasn't been charged with any crime, but that doesn't mean he's in the clear with the law.

"He has been released from the hospital, and he's still recovering, but he could be facing Federal charges as well," Lee said.

The ATF is not sure how long the theft operation had been going on.  But agent Lee is certain of one thing the dangerous endeavor wasn't worth it.

"We are beyond lucky that no one, that there's no loss of life issues involved in this incident," Lee said.

The ATF is also working with the military in the investigation.

They believe the stolen artillery came from Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg.

Each of the federal charges carries a possible maximum sentence of ten years in prison.