Phoenix police identify victims in natural gas explosion at local home

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department has identified the person who was killed in a in a natural gas explosion near downtown Phoenix on Thursday.

According to the department, 73-year-old Anita Johnson died when the explosion happened about 10:15 a.m. near Grand Avenue and Fillmore Street. She was found dead at the scene.

Two more people — a 23-year-old male and 57-year-old male — both suffered serious injuries in the incident. They are currently recovering from the non-life threatening injuries.

Officials said Johnson was part of a local charity and arranged to have a new stove installed at the home, which belonged to a mother and her three children. They were not home at the time.

Witnesses told police that the men were taking a propane tank out of the home when the explosion occurred.

One home was destroyed by the explosion. A second was damaged. The explosion knocked down some power lines and Salt River Project crews were working to repair them.

The cause of the explosion in a neighborhood just east of downtown is still under investigation.

Without confirming its employees were those involved, Spencer’s TV & Appliance general manager Roy Hannah issued a statement saying the company was “deeply saddened by the tragedy that took place.

“At this point we don’t have a complete picture as to how everything took place,” Hannah’s statement said. “We are praying for everybody involved and our hearts go out to the family and friends who lost a loved one today.”

Crews from Southwest Gas determined their company did not service the home and the home’s gas apparently came from a propane tank, Van Hook said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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