2 suspects arrested for explosion caused by Roman Candle at Harvard Medical School

The US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah Foley announced on Tuesday afternoon that 18-year-old Logan David Patterson and 20-year-old Dominique Frank Cardoza were taken into custody earlier in the morning. They have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to damage, by means of an explosive.

The suspects were captured on surveillance cameras at around 2:33 am on November 1, walking near the medical school and lighting what appeared to be a Roman candle firework. Around 10 minutes later, the suspects were seen in the footage climbing the scaffolding on the side of 220 Longwood Avenue and accessing the roof. "A short time later, campus police were alerted to a fire alarm from an explosion on the fourth floor of the building, which houses a research laboratory for Harvard Medical School’s department of neurobiology."

The explosive used inside a research lab locker is believed to have been a large commercial firework, which she clarified that authorities believe was a Roman candle.

The suspects were identified after the release of the suspects’ photos, which prompted members of the community to call in, identifying Cardoza and Patterson as the suspects. "Thanks to a number of principled individuals who did the right thing and called authorities when they recognized Patterson and Cardoza, investigators were able to quickly piece together surveillance videos, comb through evidence and positively identify them as the alleged perpetrators of the charged crime," said Foley.

Foley said that authorities have determined there is no ongoing threat to the surrounding community. "The conduct alleged in the charging documents was not only irresponsible and risky, it was criminal, and there are consequences for those who commit federal crimes."

FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks said, "This explosive device had the potential to cause significant injury to anyone nearby, but only by sheer luck and because of a rapid response of first responders, no lives were lost, no one was injured, and property damage was limited. But let me be clear, setting off an explosive device inside a locker at an institution geared toward higher education is not some harmless college prank. It's selfish, it's short-sighted, and it's a federal crime."

He said that the two suspects allegedly "boasted about what they did to their friends," and that Cardoza "event went as far as trying to hide evidence that could connect him to the alleged crime."