Cops Hunt Serial Pipe Bomb Thrower in Virginia
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ATF(STAFFORD COUNTY, Va.) — Federal, state and local police are on the lookout for a man they said targeted two policemen and an ex-girlfriend in homemade pipe bomb attacks.
Police officials in Stafford County, Virginia said in a press release that Lawrence Alan Stewart, 25, is suspected of detonating three pipe bombs within a few minutes of each other at separate locations early in the morning Tuesday. The targets of the attacks were a county detective, a county deputy and an ex-girlfriend of Lawrence’s, police said.
While no one was killed or injured in the attacks, authorities said Lawrence is still on the loose and could be a threat to the public.
“We are concerned that this guy could be running around with a carload of pipe bombs, and we want to catch him before anyone else is targeted and certainly before anyone is injured or killed,” said Richard Marianos, special agent in charge of the ATF’s Washington, D.C. field office.
A press release from the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said Lawrence is considered “armed and dangerous.”
Lawrence has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of arson and one count of using a weapon or device for a terror act, police said.
“Rest assured that every investigative and law enforcement technique is being utilized to locate and arrest Laurence Stewart,” Sheriff Charles Jett said. “I am hoping that the public can assist authorities in locating Stewart.”
Police are asking anyone with information that could help the investigation to call the Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4400, Crime Solvers at 540-659-2020 or by texting STAFFORD and your tip to CRIMES (274637).
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