LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — An unknown explosive device was set off in a mailbox near Calvary Baptist Church and another in a trash bin at Holy Cross Catholic Church. No injuries were reported.
From Las Cruces Sun-News: “It was a real bomb, I saw all the parts,” said Cavalry Baptist member Dennis Llewellyn, who said he was outside the church when the explosive went off. Llewellyn said he was a former special forces member with the Marines and recognized the bomb parts that included an Everready battery. He and fellow church member Mike Stewart kept those churchgoers arriving for the 8:30 a.m. service from going into the building during the five to 10 minutes it took for police to arrive. Stewart was the one to notice the debris and damaged mailbox, the two men said.
“Right now, there’s just a lot of paper shreds,” said Las Cruces police spokesperson Sgt. Robert Gutierrez. “We’re thinking someone put a lot of fireworks together.”