Crime
Logan David Patterson and Dominick Frank Cardoza Arrested in Connection with Explosion at Harvard Medical School
BOSTON, MA — Federal authorities have arrested two Massachusetts men in connection with an explosion that occurred over the weekend at Harvard Medical School’s Goldenson Building.
According to officials, Logan David Patterson, 18, of Plymouth, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 20, of Bourne, were taken into custody on Tuesday morning. Both men have been charged with conspiracy to damage property by means of fire or an explosive and were scheduled to be arraigned in federal court later in the day.
The incident took place early Saturday morning inside the Goldenson Building, located on the Harvard Medical School campus in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. The facility houses research laboratories and offices for the school’s Department of Neurobiology. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported as a result of the blast.
At a press briefing, U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley addressed public concerns following the revelation that the explosion was intentionally caused.
“Anxiety levels naturally rise when the public learns that an explosion was intentionally caused. I would say those levels may rise even higher in the Boston area,” Foley said. “However, based on current findings, there is no ongoing threat to Harvard University or the surrounding community.”
According to the criminal complaint, surveillance footage and witness statements linked Patterson and Cardoza to the scene. The pair had reportedly been in Boston for Halloween festivities, including events at nearby colleges such as Wentworth Institute of Technology.
On the day of the explosion, surveillance video captured the suspects walking toward the Harvard Medical School complex. Witnesses told investigators that the men selected the Goldenson Building because it “appeared abandoned” and gained access through the roof.
The charging documents allege that the suspects ignited a roman candle outside the facility before placing a cherry bomb inside a locker on the fourth floor. The device later detonated, triggering a fire alarm and prompting a response from university and city police.
“Let me be clear,” said Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office. “Setting off an explosive device inside a locker at an institution dedicated to education and research is not a prank — it’s reckless, it’s dangerous, and it’s a federal crime.”
Neither Foley nor Docks commented on a possible motive, citing the ongoing investigation.
Harvard Medical School officials reported that the blast caused no structural damage, and all laboratory equipment and research materials remained intact. The Boston Fire Department confirmed that the explosion was intentional, and a thorough search of the building revealed no additional explosive devices.
University police stated that an officer responding to the fire alarm observed two individuals fleeing the building shortly after the explosion occurred — a detail that later contributed to identifying the suspects.
Federal investigators, including members of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), continue to examine the case. Additional charges may be filed pending the outcome of forensic and investigative reviews.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.