As woman recovers from fireworks mishap, police investigate and community rallies

A police investigation is underway after a Columbia mother and library worker was severely injured in a fireworks mishap on July 4. While police look into the case, community support continues to pour in for the woman, who is being treated at an Augusta burn unit, as well as her family.

Leah McCleskey, a mother of one and employee of the Richland Library, suffered third-degree burns all over her body after she was hit by what her husband suspects was a mortar-style firework. The incident happened at Hand Middle School, where families gathered to celebrate the national holiday.

Emily Rawl, a close friend of McCleskey, was also injured during the incident, suffering a ruptured eardrum and burns.

“Seeing my good friend like I saw her was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced,” Rawl said.

The Columbia Police Department said it’s investigating to “determine if any crimes were committed” in relation to the July 4 incident, according to CPD spokesperson Jennifer Timmons.

Susan DuPlessis, McCleskey’s mother, says how the firework ended up nearly killing her daughter is “the big question.”

“We’re all trying to get to the bottom of what happened,” DuPlessis said. “If there is negligence or intent, we want to know that too.”

More than the criminal investigation, DuPlessis and McCleskey’s family first concern is Leah.

McCleskey is in stable condition and communicative, relatives say. She already has undergone five surgeries and a sixth is planned, with more likely to follow.

DuPlessis says the process has been slow.

“It’s not even a healing process yet,” she says. “I think the thing we’re learning in this process [is] each surgery reveals more about where we are.”

Surgeries continue to reveal shrapnel, firework pieces and other debris.

The family has heard varying estimates that continue to get longer for when McCleskey will be released from the hospital. She’ll be in for weeks more at minimum. Still, the family’s remains positive and optimistic.

An outpouring of community support followed the incident. In 13 days, a crowd-sourcing fund raised nearly $30,000 for McCleskey and her family with more donations coming in as recently as Wednesday. The online fundraiser is still underway.

Further help came during a fundraiser at Hunter-Gatherer at the Curtiss Wright Hangar in the Rosewood community. On Sunday, strangers and friends gathered at the brewery with a percentage of sales going to McCleskey and her family.

Amber Watson, an employee of Hunter-Gatherer, heard about McCleskey’s incident and wanted to help. Though she only knew McCleskey as a Rosewood resident, Watson asked over social media if people would support McCleskey through a fundraiser at the brewery. Getting positive feedback, she sought and received the blessing of McCleskey’s friends and family.

“It was devastating,” Watson said about hearing of the firework incident. “I have a child as well so that struck home. I thought I would want someone to help our family if we were in a situation like that.”

Watson guesses the number of people who attended the fundraiser was double the average Sunday. People who know McCleskey and many who don’t attended to show their support. Firefighters who first responded to the incident also came, according to DuPlessis.

“It was very reaffirming for a parent of a child that’s been really injured to see that kind of community support and love,” DuPlessis said.

Several hundred dollars were raised at the event, Watson said.

The fundraiser had a deeper meaning than money for McCleskey’s mother.

“Creating that opportunity for people to come together to support Leah, people who knew her and some who didn’t, that was the other great part of this event,” DuPlessis said.

A social media page was started to auction off art and artisan works with the proceeds going to the McCleskeys. Listed on the site are stone and wire jewelry, locally-made children’s clothes, pottery and more handcrafts, as well as gift certificates to art classes and even someone’s Garbage Pail Kids card collection.

This story was originally published July 18, 2018 at 5:36 PM.