FBI Arrests Two Men After Explosion Rocks Harvard Medical School – One Suspect Wore Crocs to the Crime Scene

Two Massachusetts men have been arrested in connection with an explosion that occurred inside a Harvard Medical School building early Saturday morning, which investigators believe was caused by a large commercial firework.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Logan D. Patterson, 18, of Plymouth, and Dominick F. Cardoza, 20, of Bourne, were charged with conspiracy to damage by fire or explosive, a federal offense that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The men appeared in federal court on Tuesday, where a judge ordered them to stay away from Harvard’s campus and prohibited them from handling firearms or fireworks. Authorities say the pair were visiting Boston to attend Halloween-related social events at the Wentworth Institute of Technology.

An FBI affidavit filed in court details the suspects’ alleged movements before the explosion. Surveillance cameras captured two individuals walking toward Harvard’s medical campus at approximately 2:23 a.m., one wearing a blue-gray balaclava, brown sweatshirt, tan sweatpants, and white Crocs, and the other dressed in a blue mask, dark hooded jacket, plaid pajama pants, and black sneakers.

Footage shows the pair lighting what appeared to be roman candle-style fireworks before climbing a chain-link fence near the Goldenson Building, which houses brain research laboratories. Investigators allege that Patterson and Cardoza used scaffolding to access the building’s roof and entered the fourth floor, where they lit the fireworks.

Roughly 40 minutes later, security footage from Wentworth’s campus showed the two men returning, running between buildings before heading toward the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). The affidavit states that Cardoza was later seen wearing only boxers, apparently after discarding parts of his clothing to avoid detection.

Federal authorities say the explosion caused only minor damage and no injuries. In a statement, Harvard University officials thanked law enforcement for their swift response, noting that “the campus remains safe and secure.”

“Setting off an explosive device inside a locker at an institution devoted to education and research is not some harmless college prank,” said FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks. “It’s reckless, dangerous, and a federal crime.”

The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Harvard University and the Trump administration, as the school continues negotiations with federal officials over funding and compliance disputes tied to ongoing education reforms.

Both suspects remain under federal supervision as the investigation continues.

• Sarah Beckstrom Killed in D.C. Ambush; Fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe in Critical Condition, Trump Announces
• U.S. Won’t Mark World AIDS Day for First Time Since 1988 – Biden Criticized as White House Floods Calendar With Trump-Era ‘Awareness’ Proclamations
• JD Vance Tries Comedy at Fort Campbell, Delivers a Thanksgiving ‘Turkey’ Joke That Bombs and Leaves Troops Baffled
• Trump Blasts ‘Evil’ Ambush After Two Guardsmen Shot in D.C.; Afghan National Named as Suspect
• Jay Caspian Kang Examines How the Epstein Scandal Could Shape U.S. Politics After Trump

Joseph Johnson

They say not everyone has the gift of gab to be able to talk about politics in the correct light - but Joseph is the perfect mix between a healthy critic, and a realist cynic. His unique personality works wonders at political discussions which are bound to cause a stir. He is an intellectual with many years of experience in the field, and his work is a reflection of his dedication to making political scenarios common knowledge among the citizens of the nation.