Imagine the shock of an explosion tearing through a cutting-edge neuroscience lab at one of America's most revered institutions—that's the unbelievable reality unfolding at Harvard Medical School. But here's where it gets controversial: could this chaos really stem from the actions of two seemingly ordinary college students? Dive in as we unpack the full story, revealing how federal agents pieced together a trail of social media clues and surveillance footage to unmask the suspects in what authorities are calling a deliberate act of destruction.
Recently, federal officials announced that two young men from Massachusetts colleges are accused of orchestrating and executing a blast within a Harvard Medical School laboratory, employing what investigators describe as a substantial commercial firework. To help beginners grasp this, think of these fireworks as oversized, powerful versions of the kind you might see at major celebrations—far beyond sparklers or small rockets, capable of causing significant harm due to their explosive force and potential for unintended consequences, like the watermelon demonstrations Florida police have used to show how such devices can wreak havoc.
The individuals in question are Logan David Patterson, an 18-year-old from Plymouth, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, a 20-year-old from Bourne. They've been apprehended and face federal charges for allegedly conspiring to inflict damage on a building at the Ivy League university's campus, specifically targeting the Goldenson Building—a hub for advanced neuroscience research labs. In simpler terms, conspiracy charges here mean they were accused of planning together to cause harm using explosives, which is a serious federal offense because it involves coordinated intent rather than a spontaneous mistake.
The pair was taken into custody on Tuesday morning and made their first appearances in federal court in Boston that same afternoon. Their next legal step is a preliminary hearing set for November 24, where judges will review the evidence to decide if the case proceeds further.
Adding to the intrigue, Harvard University Police released surveillance images showing the two suspects, masked and dressed in dark attire, escaping the building right as the explosion occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025. And this is the part most people miss: these photos weren't just lucky shots—they were part of a broader digital footprint that led investigators straight to the culprits.
For more context on how the FBI cracked this case, check out their official announcement about the arrests linked to the Harvard Medical School incident. According to a federal complaint from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Patterson and Cardoza were reportedly attending Halloween festivities at the Wentworth Institute of Technology campus on October 31, lingering into the early hours of November 1, where they were spotted together.
An FBI affidavit provides a minute-by-minute account: at around 2:33 a.m., cameras caught them heading toward the Harvard Medical School grounds, their faces obscured by coverings and clad in dark outfits. Just moments after, footage seems to depict them lighting what looked like Roman candle-style fireworks—those elongated devices that shoot out bright, fiery streams—before pressing on toward the campus.
About 10 minutes later, the video allegedly shows them scaling a chain-link fence into a construction zone around the Goldenson Building, then climbing scaffolding to reach the roof. At precisely 2:45 a.m., a fire alarm blared following an explosion on the fourth floor, inside a research lab within the Department of Neurobiology. Experts later concluded that a large commercial firework had gone off inside a wooden locker, underscoring the potential risks of such devices in sensitive environments.
Ted Docks, the FBI's special agent in charge in Boston, addressed the gravity of the situation at a news conference alongside U.S. Attorney Leah Foley on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. 'This explosive device had the potential to cause significant injury to anyone nearby—but only by sheer luck, and because of a rapid response by first responders, no lives were lost, no one was injured and property damage was limited,' he remarked. It's a stark reminder of how close things could have come to disaster, highlighting the importance of quick emergency responses in preventing tragedies.
To get the full legal details, you can review the criminal complaint directly. Between 2:45 and 2:50 a.m., Patterson and Cardoza were reportedly observed on the fifth floor before splitting up and fleeing the structure in different directions.
Prosecutors point to additional surveillance capturing Cardoza shortly thereafter, seated on a bench, stripping off his pants and discarding them in a trash bin—a bizarre move that might raise eyebrows about their state of mind or attempts to evade detection. Patterson, meanwhile, reappeared on the nearby Wentworth campus at about 3:09 a.m., darting between buildings while recharging his phone.
Around 3:40 a.m., the two reunited with a third person, and the group was seen heading toward the Massachusetts College of Art and Design campus. In the footage, Patterson had shed his sweatshirt and sweatpants, whereas Cardoza remained in a dark hooded jacket and black sneakers. Eyewitnesses later confirmed their identities, noting they'd been part of the Halloween events at Wentworth.
But here's where things turn even more intriguing: the FBI affidavit references their online presence, specifically public Instagram profiles that connect the duo. 'Open-source research indicates that Patterson and Cardoza each maintain an Instagram account. The profile photograph currently used for both of these accounts is the same photograph of Patterson and Cardoza with three other young males,' the document states. Fox News Digital verified this, finding matching profile pictures aligning with the affidavit's description.
These accounts feature a handful of public posts depicting everyday moments like high school graduations, sports activities, and outings with buddies—nothing overtly suspicious, which begs the question: was this a misguided prank among friends, or did social media inadvertently expose a deeper plot?
For broader coverage, the FBI Boston's Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with Harvard University Police, held a press event to detail the arrests. And if you're following along digitally, don't miss the chance to download the Fox News app for instant updates.
Both individuals stand accused of conspiring to damage, via explosives, property associated with an institution that receives federal financial support—framing this as a federal crime due to the potential implications for publicly funded research.
Now, let's talk controversy: some might argue this was just reckless youthful mischief, amplified by Halloween festivities and perhaps a bit too much bravado. Others could see it as a deliberate act of sabotage against a symbol of academic prestige, raising alarms about security at elite universities. Was the use of a 'large commercial firework' a calculated choice, or simply what was accessible? And considering the neuroscience focus of the damaged lab, does this incident highlight vulnerabilities in protecting cutting-edge scientific work? We invite you to weigh in: do you think justice will be served here, or is there more to the story than meets the eye? Share your opinions in the comments below—let's discuss!
Molly Line contributed reporting to this piece, and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital, penned it. Follow her on Twitter or LinkedIn for more insights.
