Bomb-Making May Lead to Charge for Juvenile

By Sam Thrift Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Fire Marshals with the James City County Fire Department are applying for a petition to charge a 14-year-old boy with manufacturing an explosive device, said District Chief Bob Ryalls.

On June 19, Ryalls said, the accused attempted to manufacture an improvised explosive device that resulted in the injury of three other juveniles in the Chickahominy Road area of James City County.

The injuries occurred when the juveniles were exposed to a chemical reaction of the materials used in the attempt to build a “bottle bomb” type device.

The injured individuals were treated, transported and later released from the hospital with a chief complaint of difficulty breathing.

The four all live in the same neighborhood, Ryalls said. The boy being charged was the only one believed to have taken part in making the bomb. Fire Marshals, Ryalls said, do not believe that the boys were intending to harm anyone with the device.

No other charges pending at this time.