Santa Barbara County bomb squad retrieves two homemade explosives from teen's home

Santa Barbara County authorities acted on a report that a male juvenile had voiced disturbing plans to hurt others, prompting a bomb squad response to his home in the Orcutt area. Officers recovered two explosive devices, which were later rendered harmless. A county sheriff’s spokesperson declined to identify the targeted school but confirmed there were no threats inside the campus.

While reviewing the teen’s digital footprint, investigators uncovered communication with an Illinois youth who displayed comparable concerning behavior. The California agency notified the relevant Illinois law-enforcement body, which determined the information did not constitute an actionable danger.