Originally published 2:00 a.m. June 6, 2009, updated 9:51 a.m., June 6, 2009
Five bottle bombs exploded inside trash cans near students eating lunch at San Ysidro High School yesterday, leading to the arrest of a senior honors student and a police sweep of the campus that lasted into the night. No one was injured, and nothing was damaged in what Principal Hector Espinoza called “a very bad prank.”
Authorities found seven more bottles, said Maurice Luque, spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Three of them, also in trash cans, did not explode and were detonated by the department's bomb squad after students left campus. The other four, which were partially assembled, were found in the student's backpack, he said. Police later arrested Elphbert Laforteza, 18. He faces 12 felony counts related to the explosives, Luque said. Luque said fragments from the plastic bottles could have seriously injured or killed someone. Bomb-sniffing dogs searched the entire school Friday night to make sure it was safe for students taking the SAT Saturday, Espinoza said. The principal also said that Laforteza, who had been awarded a full scholarship to the U.S. Air Force Academy, was involved in a senior prank last week when students broke into the school and arranged chairs in the shape of “09” on a playing field. “It's shameful and tragic,” Espinoza said. “Here's a kid with a full ride (scholarship) and he engages in this conduct.” Friday was the last day of school for seniors, who had finished their finals, Espinoza said. He said underclass students returning next week for finals will be asked not to bring backpacks to campus. The blasts, described as sounding like a loud firecracker, occurred about 1:30 p.m. in the quad where students were eating. One senior, in an e-mail to The San Diego Union-Tribune, said everyone looked around but saw nothing wrong. “Only moments later we saw white powder/smoke coming out of the trashcans surrounding us,” the student wrote. School officials sent students back to their classes. Espinoza said students identified the youth seen putting objects into concrete trash containers in the quad. The teenager was contacted minutes later, and his backpack was searched. Four Gatorade bottles of the type used in the explosives were in the pack, Espinoza said. The teenager was held until police arrived, and the fire department, Metro Arson Strike Team and a hazardous-materials crew were summoned. Students remained in lockdown until shortly after 4 p.m. Espinoza said they left in an orderly fashion to cars and buses. The principal said he sent parents a telephone alert to let them know what happened. On May 27, a group of students used a stolen master key to get into campus buildings and haul out an estimated 400 pieces of furniture. School officials identified 13 students as being involved in the senior prank and dealt punishments ranging from 20 to 40 hours of school service, with no suspensions.
