school prank bomb |
Prosecutors declined to file charges against an 18-year-old scholar-athlete accused of setting off five bottle bombs at San Ysidro High School last week, citing the need for more investigation.
Elphbert Laforteza, was booked into jail Friday night, hours after the bottle-bombs went off in trash barrels during lunch. Besides the five crude homemade chemical bombs that exploded, three others were disabled by the bomb squad and officers found four others partially assembled in Laforteza's backpack, according to authorities. Nobody was injured and no property was damaged in the explosions.
"At this time he was not charged because there may be more participants in the activities on Friday. We here at the school are investigating the same rumor," Principal Hector Espinoza said.
Laforteza was an all-league football player and an ROTC cadet. He had applied but had not been admitted to the Air Force Academy, a spokesman for the Air Force said. Espinoza said he will get his diploma but won't be allowed to participate in graduation activities on campus.
'I'd be lying to you if I didn't tell you he's an outstanding young man and has been very successful in his four years high school career here," Espinoza said.
Laforteza was released from jail Tuesday afternoon.
Elphbert Laforteza, was booked into jail Friday night, hours after the bottle-bombs went off in trash barrels during lunch. Besides the five crude homemade chemical bombs that exploded, three others were disabled by the bomb squad and officers found four others partially assembled in Laforteza's backpack, according to authorities. Nobody was injured and no property was damaged in the explosions.
"At this time he was not charged because there may be more participants in the activities on Friday. We here at the school are investigating the same rumor," Principal Hector Espinoza said.
Laforteza was an all-league football player and an ROTC cadet. He had applied but had not been admitted to the Air Force Academy, a spokesman for the Air Force said. Espinoza said he will get his diploma but won't be allowed to participate in graduation activities on campus.
'I'd be lying to you if I didn't tell you he's an outstanding young man and has been very successful in his four years high school career here," Espinoza said.
Laforteza was released from jail Tuesday afternoon.
