Whatever happened to TPing the house of someone you don’t like?
An 18-year-old has been charged with setting off explosives at the home of an assistant principal in Lake Saint Louis, MO, last Saturday.
The 18-year-old was charged Tuesday with second-degree accessory to arson and first-degree accessory to property damage. Two 17-year-olds were also arrested, and another is being held as a person of interest in connection with the incident.
Explosives were detonated outside the home of the Wentzville School District administrator, Keith Sanders. He and his family were home at the time. The incident occurred just before 7:30 p.m., shaking the neighborhood and causing thousands of dollars in damage to the assistant principal’s home.
Sanders, who is assistant principal at Timberland High School, recounted the chaotic moments following the first blast.
“I heard a huge explosion and actually saw a flash of light,” he said. A second explosion followed shortly after. “So I ran upstairs. My wife is screaming. I’m looking around for smoke, fire, whatever I could find, and didn’t see anything. So then I walked here to the front door and looked out, and this whole entryway was filled with smoke.”
Upon inspecting his front porch, Sanders discovered a mess left by what he described as a type of fertilizer bomb. The explosion left significant damage.
“There’s probably 20 holes in the siding. Some of the siding popped out. The soffit up here warped or fell. I don’t know if it’s damaged and it just needs to get popped back up or what, but then of course my concrete — it corroded through the concrete,” Sanders said.
A second explosion on the side of the house did not appear to cause any damage.
The explosions occurred just feet away from his son’s bedroom. Sanders said of his son, “He couldn’t sleep that night.” He emphasized the potential for serious injury, saying, “These things were powerful enough to probably kill somebody, stop your heart. That’s how big they were.”
Lake St. Louis Police Chief Chris DiGuiseppi confirmed that, with help from video evidence and neighbors, they were able to track down those allegedly involved.
While the suspects are students at Sanders’ school, a motive remains unclear.
“I mean, if you’re putting together an explosive device, you’re placing that near somebody’s home, that’s certainly not a prank or a joke. We’re certainly taking it seriously, and we’re confident that the juvenile authorities and our prosecutors will take it seriously also,” DiGuiseppi said.
Sanders, who has received an outpouring of support from the school community, expressed his confusion over the incident. He urged other parents to be aware of their children’s activities.
“To parents out there, make sure that you’re vigilant, that you’re connected to your kids, that you’re present, that you know what they’re doing on a Saturday night,” he said.
The Wentzville School District released a statement acknowledging it is aware of the incident: “It is essential that our staff and students feel safe both at school and at home, and this matter is being treated with the seriousness it warrants. It has been fully turned over to law enforcement, and we will continue to cooperate with authorities and provide support as needed.”
Police said the four teens bought mortar fireworks used to make IEDs and set the IEDs on Sanders’ property. The bottles that exploded had animal feces and urine, vinegar, and sauce packets inside, according to authorities.
Sanders confirmed that the suspects are students affiliated with Timberland High School, where he is an assistant principal.
“I wish it was some random act, but it’s disappointing we get into education because we love kids,” he said. “I love kids, even kids who are sometimes a little tougher to work with.”
Sanders said he hopes the situation can be a teaching moment for families.
“Know what your kids are up to, know who their friends are, what they do on the weekends,” he said. “Check their cars, check their social media because stuff like this can be prevented.”
The 18-year-old student is being held on a $20,000 cash-only bond.