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TAMPA - Two University of South Florida students were arrested after two “dry ice bombs” exploded on campus Saturday evening, according to police and jail records.
Anthony M. Shortt and Sarah J. Claussen, both 19, were charged with felony discharging a destructive device.
Shortt acknowledged constructing a dry ice bomb after a “large and loud explosion” was reported on the north side of Delta Hall about 5:40 p.m., USF police Lt. Chris Daniel said.
As Shortt was being questioned, a second bomb exploded near several USF police officers, Daniel said. Shortt then acknowledged making and detonating both bombs.
Claussen helped get the products needed to construct the bombs, Daniel said.
No one was injured, and there was no property damage, he said.
Shortt and Claussen were being held at the Orient Road Jail late Saturday. Bail was set at $2,000 each.
Please don’t let the word “bomb” scare you. Certainly these contraptions blow up, but they are not very dangerous at all. It would have been the same if they had simply set off some firecrackers.
Albeit it was a stupid mistake given the noise they make, but please understand that these devices truely are not very dangerous at all.
I really don’t feel bad for either of the two students… I feel bad for their parents. Obviously the education wasn’t working out well since anyone with any knowledge of current events would realize that detonating any device on a collegiate campus is just socially unacceptable. I am not claiming that I have never done something foolish in my younger years, but a bomb?? Come on now!! This is something that will haunt the two of them throughout their working adult lives as well… lesson here is to think twice, act once.
Take a ride throughthe USF areaon a Sunday morning and look at all the beer bottles in the lots, and the garbage everywhere. These kids are out of control
I’m sure these two fools thought it was all a prank. Not so. Now they will have to suffer the conseqences of a failed education, embarrassment for them and their parents, and possible prosecution. And, what did they get out of it. Nothing!
I knew lots of kids who did things a whole lot worse than that, and they were pretty mainstream kids. Dry ice bombs mostly just make a bunch of noise. Scaring the cops by blowing one up close to them was a really bad move, though. I wish they would think of a more creative punishment that did not involve a trip to Orient Road, and really screwing up their lives. I am glad I am not a kid today, everybody is too uptight about shenanigans.
Hey Cheryl..
Do you even know what a dry ice bomb is?
You take a plastic soda bottle put a few cups of water in it throw in some dry ice, screw the cap on tight and as the ice melts into a gas the pressure inside the bottle builds up untill the bottle explodes.
Its very loud but otherwise harmless. Ive done them a few times with my son as a sort of home science project displaying how a solid can become a gas ect..
The reason the boys were not charged is mostlikley because the devices were not LEGALLY considered to be bombs at all. The same principle of physics is applied if you take a plastic bag and expell your own used breath (carbonmonoxide, oxygen and nitrogen)into the bag and apply a sudden pressure to it. In other words blow up a plastic bag and smack it between your hands. Its the same thing.
You gotta draw the line somewhere..
I don’t think the parents will be ashamed. They will stick up for their precious little darlings, They will blame everyone but their children. The college, their friends, The butcher, the baker and even th ecandlestick maker.
Sounds like some college kids having fun. No one was hurt, no property was damaged, What the heck? No one has a sense of humor anymore. They should not have a criminal record, they should have a “D” in chemistry for the poor construction.
I can’t believe these kids. They think they can get away with anything.
And the sad part is they are not only going to face criminal charges but they probably won’t be allowed in any Florida University.
It is so sad. And OMG there parents are going to be so ashamed of them.
Kids, I know you want to have fun, but think of your future please.
College is important and expensive so do your best to stay out of trouble and do the right thing.
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Posted by Ryan Lynge, University of South Florida on 04/02 at 02:22 PM
Hello these are two of my best friends. They did not do this to be malicious. There was no danger in what they did. They did this little experiment was done in a open field with nobody around. I think the way the university has been handling this is unacceptable. They were out of county for no more than six hours when on a Sunday night at 10 pm they were told to gather there belongs and get out. This gave them no time to figure out where to stay. They were left out on the streets. I think the deal that everyone is making of this is ridiculous. These two people were very good students. I have spent everyday for the past 6 months with these two people. They study hard and are good people!!!