Coroner’s office issues report on death in Realty Building gas explosion

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office has ruled the May 28 death of a man who was killed when the Realty Tower exploded as an accident.

A coroner’s report released Friday said the cause of death of Akil Drake, 27, was blunt force injuries to the head and neck.

Drake, who worked at Chase Bank in the building, was killed after a natural gas explosion in the building which ultimately led to it being demolished and tenants at a nearby building evacuated until the Realty Towers building was stable.

The last of those tenants returned home over the weekend.

The report said Drake was found at about 11:05 p.m. under debris in the basement of the building.

Drake’s estate is suing the owner of the building, the property management company and the gas company in a wrongful death lawsuit.

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