Two young men from Massachusetts have been arrested in connection with an explosion at Harvard Medical School, according to federal authorities. Logan David Patterson, 18, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 20, were taken into custody early in the morning on Tuesday and were charged with conspiracy to damaging property using an explosive device. The incident occurred at about 2:45am on the fourth floor of the Goldenson Building. The Goldenson Building houses a research lab for Harvard’s department of neurobiology.
Investigators believe the explosive was a Roman candle firework that detonated inside a wooden locker. Thankfully, no one was injured. FBI Boston Special Agent Ted Docks highlighted the seriousness of the act, saying, “This is not some harmless college prank. It’s a federal crime.” He also said that the explosion would have caused casualties if anyone was in the building at the time.
Surveillance footage from early Saturday showed two men in masks walking near the medical school and you can see them lighting what looked to be Roman candle fireworks. The suspects then made their way up the scaffolding and onto the roof. Shortly after, a fire alarm was triggered due to the explosion, resulting in a response from Harvard University Police. Security cameras also caught the suspects fleeing the scene.
Patterson and Cardoza don’t attend Harvard. Prosecutors said they were visiting the nearby Wentworth Institute of Technology because they had been at some Halloween parties. After the explosion, Cardoza was allegedly seen throwing his pants into a trash can and they were later discovered by investigators. Members of the public helped identify the suspects after hearing them brag about the explosion to their friends.
The Boston Fire Department’s Arson Unit confirmed that the explosion was in fact intentional. No additional devices were found, and authorities say thankfully there is no ongoing threat to the university or the public. The investigation remains active, with local, state, and federal agencies working together to gain more information about this ordeal.
This incident has raised serious concerns about campus safety and the consequences of reckless behavior. It serves as a reminder that actions taken for attention or thrill can have lasting legal and social consequences, especially when they are dangerous to public institutions and scientific research.
