Firefighters working to put out the blaze inside the Jade

The recently re-opened Jade Dragon was the site of destruction during the afternoon hours on Tuesday.  With a large crowd of customers getting their fill of sushi prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, one man came bearing a pipe bomb.  Somehow the explosive was noticed by a customer or two as one of them wisely dialed 911.  Before long, police were surrounding the restaurant, trying to speak with the man and hopefully prevent him from setting off an explosion.  Unfortunately, shortly before DEFD Cheif Mela Reed-Bellic and Captain Keiran MacClawden arrived, the man detonated his bomb.  Captain Shade Manx and Lieutenant Roxy Smythe were each blown off their feet but the damage inside far outweighed a few flying cops.

The survivors were carried outside to safety before heading to the hospital for treatment

The mad bomber, a man later identified as Kane Oshiro was killed instantly by the blast while several other patrons who were in close proximity to the explosion while in the tight confines of the sushi bar sustained severe injuries, not just from the fire and flying debris but the smoke as well.  As firefighters entered to put out the blaze, Chief Reed-Bellic worked to help the injured.  Mesa King and her boyfriend Cristos Espina  were quickly hauled to safety as the chief noted a few patrons had taken refuge from the damage in the basement.  Owner Kaito along with fellow business owners Shye lala Hooterstweaken and Jimmy O’Graydy were all found huddled below, hoping the thick smoke didn’t make it’s way down to them.  All were quickly transferred to the DEMH along with Captain Manx and Lt. Smythe, having suffered varying degrees of injuries due to burns, smoke inhalation and bomb shrapnel.

The true motive for the bombing remains uncertain, however, CCTV footage, which thankfully survived the blast shows Mr. Oshiro seemingly distraught.  While we can’t say for certain this is what drove him to bring a pipe bomb to a sushi bar, and as dead men tell no tales, we may never fully know the reason.

Vance Clayton, DE Daily Reporter