Police found a “fully armed and ready to detonate” explosive device in the home of a shooting suspect Saturday night.
Around 8:55 p.m. Saturday police responded to the 1400 block of N. Grant Street after a gunshot was reported. A 21-year-old man told police was living at the residence until a few days ago, but while picking up his belongings, Christopher Lynch, 37-years-old, of Bloomington, had shot at him after an argument.
“Christopher Lynch went into his bedroom and retrieved an “AR-15 style rifle” and pointed it at the victim. The victim reported that he then grabbed the gun and the two began to struggle and at one point, the gun was fired, and the victim said he was also struck in the head by some part of the gun during the struggle. The victim then ran out of the house,” said Bloomington Police Department Capt. Ryan Pedigo in a media statement.
“Officers arrived and secured the scene and began interviewing parties involved. Officers observed blood near the front door of the residence, so they performed a protective sweep of the residence to ensure that there were no other victims inside. While doing so, officers observed a rifle magazine in plain view as well as a spent shell casing on the living room floor, along with what appeared to be a bullet hole in a living room window,” according to Pedigo.
Investigators got a search warrant and found numerous spent .22 caliber shell casings in the residence, and a large bullet hole through a window, according to Pedigo.
“In the attic space of the residence, officers located a partially disassembled rifle that matched the description provided by the victim. Further, officers located a backpack that had what appeared to be an explosive device. The residence was therefore evacuated and the Indiana State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team was contacted to remove the device. The device was eventually rendered safe and removed by ISP EOD. EOD members advised investigators that the device was fully armed and ready to detonate,” said Pedigo.
Lynch was arrested and taken to the Monroe County Jail on the following charges:
- Possession of a Destructive Device, level 2 felony
- Possession of a Regulated Explosive by a Convicted Felon, level 5 felony
- Battery with a Deadly Weapon, level 5 felony
- Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, level 5 felony
- Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, level 5 felony
- Pointing a Firearm, level 6 felony
The Bloomington Police did not provide any further information to The Bloomingtonian on the type or size of the explosive device, why the suspect had it, or what they intended to do with it.
