June 25, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Bomb Squad Detonates Pipe Bombs Found in Santa Monica:

Residents of two apartment buildings on the 1100 block of 12th Street in Santa Monica were evacuated shortly after 7 p.m. on May 18, after Santa Monica Police found two small pipe bombs in a 16-year-old boy’s bedroom. Los Angeles County Bomb Squad officials were called in and safely detonated both devices as the boy was taken into police custody.

The discovery was a result of a probation officer’s unscheduled check-in with the young man. The Santa Monica official requested assistance from Santa Monica Police Department officers in the search of the teenage Santa Monica student’s house. During the search of the minor’s bedroom, two small, home-made explosive devices were found. Encased in PVC pipe and approximately 3-inches long each, the homemade explosives were essentially small pipe bombs.

“At this point, there is nothing to indicate that the young man had any ill intentions other than being a young man,” said Sgt. Richard Lewis, public information officer for the Santa Monica Police Department. “At the end of the day, it may just be that this was a kid making his own fireworks. But we won’t know one way or the other until [the assigned law officials] complete their investigation.”

Other dangerous objects were also found in the young man’s room, including M-80s, a potato gun, and illegal prescription drugs (described as a controlled substance). Investigators also found ammonia nitrate, a substance found in many fertilizers that can be used in explosives.

“Several illegal fireworks were also found,” said Lewis, adding that they were commercially manufactured. When asked if the illegal fireworks were purchased across state or country borders, Lewis said, “He claims he actually got them closer than that.”

The entire 9-unit apartment building was evacuated, along with half of a neighboring building’s tenants whose apartments were closest to the boy’s room. The bomb squad detonated the small pipe-bombs on the premises in a controlled apparatus. The Santa Monica Fire Department were also on scene to help with the evacuations. Investigators also confiscated the young man’s computers, some books, and printed articles on explosives.

As of press time, the minor remains in custody at a juvenile detention center, Charges were filed this week with the Juvenile District Attorney’s office in Inglewood, which include felony use and possession of a destructive devise, possession of ingredients to make a destructive devise, possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of a deadly weapon (the potato launcher), under the influence and possession of a controlled substance (Xanax), and unauthorized possession of a hypodermic needle. All of these charges constitute a probation violation.

in News
<>Related Posts

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

(Video) This is Downtown Palisades Six Months After the Devastating Wildfires

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

With Only a Few Businesses Remaining and Reopened, The Once-Idyllic District is Still Mostly Charred Remains With Only a Few...

Former Ontrak CEO Sentenced to Prison in $12.5M Insider Trading Scheme

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

CEO Receives Federal Prison Sentence for Misusing Stock Trading Plans Terren Scott Peizer, the former CEO and board chairman of...

Planning Commission Approves 18-Story Residential Tower on 6th Street, Rejects Environmental Appeal

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The 194-foot-tall building exceeds local height limits by 109 feet under California’s Density Bonus Law The Santa Monica Planning Commission...

Shooting at Waymo Car Injures Two Juveniles in Santa Monica

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Preliminary findings suggest the shooting was a targeted, isolated incident stemming from a verbal altercation earlier that evening between the...

Sculptor-Designed Marina Del Rey Beach Home Hits Market for Nearly $10M

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The four-bedroom, six-bathroom residence, known as Shore House, features black glass windows across two wings A 6,603-square-foot beachfront home, designed...

Downtown Santa Monica Landmark Faces Uncertainty as Loan Misses Maturity Deadline

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

$26.7M Santa Monica Office Loan Moves to Special Servicing Amid Cash Flow Shortfall Morningstar Credit reported that the loan tied...

Santa Monica to Begin AI-Powered Bus Lane Enforcement in July

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The program follows a 45-day pilot conducted earlier this year along Lincoln Boulevard, where 511 potential violations were identified, though...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

Malibu Traffic Delays Expected: REPORT

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

The warning applies to the first weekend of summer Transportation officials are warning travelers on the Pacific Coast Highway through...

Strongman to Pull 34,680-Pound Bus at Santa Monica Pier

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Licis, also the 2022 “Arnold Strongman Classic” champion, will undertake the feat to showcase his strength  Strongman Martins Licis, the...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

New Leadership at Samohi: Jane Han Named House Principal

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Equity-Focused Educator Joins Samohi Leadership Team By Diana Bouchaaya, SMMUSD Communications Specialist The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...