Middle school-aged suspects sought by Eureka Police
Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel
An acid bomb explosion yesterday in a Bayshore Mall hallway has attracted the scrutiny of local authorities.
At 1:43 p.m. on Sept. 5, the Eureka Fire Department was dispatched to the mall regarding the explosion; at the scene, EFD found debris from an apparent muriatic acid and aluminum foil bomb, which was packaged in a two-liter plastic soda bottle. Shortly thereafter, Eureka Police Department officers were also dispatched to assist with the criminal investigation and collection of evidence.
Upon reviewing mall surveillance footage, EPD investigators spotted three juvenile males and one juvenile females which they allege were involved in planting and detonating the homemade bomb. EPD sergeant Steve Watson estimated their age at 13-years-old in a release.
“In the video, the juvenile suspects were seen entering the mall hallway together through an entrance/exit on the south side of the mall near Spencer’s,” Watson stated. “One of the male juveniles is then seen returning to the door alone moments later, removing the 2-liter plastic bottle/explosive device from his backpack and mixing/shaking its components together. The suspect then sets the device on the floor near the door and walks quickly away from it. Approximately 3 minutes later, the bomb detonates. As the suspect walks away from the acid bomb he just planted, an unsuspecting woman is seen on video walking past him and the device and exiting through the doorway.”
While there was no apparent property destruction or injuries as a result of the bombing, EPD continues to consider this as a serious crime. They allege that the possession and detonation of an illegal explosive device in a public place is a felony act, as is the releasing of noxious or injurious gasses or liquids in a public place.
EPD describes muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, as a highly corrosive substance used primarily in industrial applications such as leather processing and cleaning masonry surfaces. Muriatic acid is corrosive to living tissue and can cause mild to severe burns of the eyes and skin, with high-level exposure resulting in chemical burns, respiratory impairment and even death.
Anyone with information concerning the suspects’ identities is asked to contact EPD senior detective Ron Harpham at (707) 441-4305.
Is there any video of the incident? Also I laugh that they call this an “explosive device”
this simply a pressure “bomb” any reaction that you can put in a plastic bottle and generates gas can be a “bomb”. I really do think these kids should be reprimanded due to the nature of the acid they used. If any of the hydrochloric acid had sprayed in to someone’s eyes they could have been permanently blinded. Also here is the equation of said reaction that took place:
6HCl +2Al –> 2AlCl3 + 3H2
The hydrochloric acid they used is most likely “the works” toilet bowl cleaner, which is 20% hydrochloric acid. If you look on the internet searching for “the works bomb” you will find hundreds of videos of said “bombs”.
This follow up came from the Eureka Police Department 9/25/11:
“EPD Criminal Investigation Services detectives reviewed video surveillance footage of the incident, which depicted four juvenile suspects who were involved in planting and detonating the homemade explosive device in a hallway. Detectives developed several leads and eventually identified the suspects: three males and a female ranging from 13 years old to 15 years old
According to the lead investigator, Senior Detective Ronald Harpham, evidence suggests three of the juveniles violated criminal conspiracy laws and a 13 year-old male suspect violated a law pertaining to possession of an explosive device in a public place.
None of the juvenile suspects had prior criminal histories or negative contacts with local law enforcement. The investigation is now complete and the criminal case has been forwarded to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office.”