Police are investigating after finding bomb-making materials in a Hapeville home Wednesday evening.
Allen Mason, the owner of the house located on Virginia Avenue at Rainey Avenue, said police searched his home after his 18-year-old son was detained for allegedly trespassing at a warehouse, where he was reportedly attempting to salvage electronics for his chemistry lab.
“The police found him with some mercury switches, which he salvaged,” Mason told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Apparently these are used in making improvised explosive devices, so based on their interview with him, they decided it was a good idea to come and inspect his chemistry lab that he has at home here.”
After a search of the home around 7 p.m., Mason said police found things that they believed warranted further investigation, so they called in federal agents.
As of around 10 p.m., he said, “They are currently testing the chemicals in his room to test if they’re dangerous, to find out if they’re precursors to bomb making, that sort of thing,” he said. “This is what their concern is and that’s what they’re trying to rule out.”
Channel 2 Action News reported police closed part of the road during the investigation and that the bomb squad was on the scene.
Mason said his son is an avid chemist and will attend Southern Polytechnic University in the fall, where he plans on majoring in mechanical engineering.
“He knows more about it than most people,” he said. “I don’t claim to know everything he’s doing, but I’m certain he’s not making bombs and I’m certain he’s not the kind of person to perpetrate any crime that would be violent against other people.”
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