Judge remands case back to district court, related to canister explosion, death of young man

Mount Clemens, MI – Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced that today, March 27, 2026, Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Michael E. Servitto ordered the case against 33-year-old Noor Noel Kestou to be returned to the Clinton Township District Court for further proceedings, where the prosecution will present evidence to establish that Kestou’s storage of thousands of nitrous oxide and butane canisters presented a hazard that was the proximate cause of 19-year-old Turner Salter’s death.

Kestou, of Commerce, MI, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, a 15-year felony, in connection with the death of Turner Salter of Clinton Township. It is alleged that on March 4, 2024, a building owned and operated by Kestou caught fire while storing thousands of nitrous oxide and butane canisters. The resulting fire triggered a massive explosion, propelling canisters into the air. One nitrous oxide canister reportedly traveled approximately a quarter mile before striking Salter in the head, killing him.

On December 26, 2025, Kestou filed a motion to quash the information, which, if granted, would result in dismissal of the charge. He argued that the fire, not his storage of the canisters, was the direct cause of Salter’s death. Both parties submitted legal briefs, and the court heard oral arguments on January 26, 2026. Judge Servitto issued his opinion and order two months later.

In his ruling, Judge Servitto determined that the issue of proximate cause, a required element for proving involuntary manslaughter, was not sufficiently established at the district court level. Proximate cause requires that a defendant’s actions be closely enough connected to a victim’s injury to hold the defendant legally responsible. The court found this element lacking and concluded that the district court abused its discretion in finding the storage of hazardous materials proximately caused the victim’s death.

As a result, the case has been remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with the ruling.

“The situation on March 4, 2024, posed extraordinary danger to our community and to first responders. Tragically, a young man lost his life,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido. “With the court’s order, this matter now returns to the district court. My duty is to seek justice for the victim and his family, and I remain committed to that objective.”

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office represents the People. We are committed to achieving justice and following the laws of the State of Michigan. All that are accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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