Harvard Bomb Plot: Two Men Arrested After Lab Explosion

BOSTON – A late-night attempt to turn a Harvard Medical School research lab into a fiery ruin has landed two Massachusetts men in federal custody. Logan David Patterson, 18, of Plymouth, Mass.; and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 20, of Bourne, Mass., were arrested today and charged with one count of conspiracy to damage, by means of an explosive, the Goldenson Building at Harvard Medical School.

The alleged plot unfolded just after 2:23 a.m. on November 1, 2025. Surveillance footage captured the pair, faces obscured and clad in dark clothing, approaching the HMS campus. Within minutes, they were allegedly lighting roman candle fireworks, a prelude to what authorities say was a far more dangerous act. The pair then allegedly scaled a chain-link fence into a construction zone surrounding the Goldenson Building, gaining access to the roof via scaffolding.

At approximately 2:45 a.m., alarms blared from the fourth floor of the Goldenson Building, which houses a research laboratory within HMS’s Department of Neurobiology. Investigators quickly determined an explosive – believed to be a large, commercial firework – had detonated inside a wooden locker. Footage shows Patterson and Cardoza allegedly moving through the building, reaching the fifth floor before fleeing through a first-floor emergency exit and disappearing in opposite directions. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact motives behind the attack.

The duo’s attempts to evade capture were clumsy, captured on multiple surveillance systems across Boston. Cardoza was allegedly seen stripping down to his shorts and discarding his pants in a garbage bin. Patterson, meanwhile, desperately sought refuge at the nearby Wentworth Institute of Technology, repeatedly attempting to enter residential buildings before finally being let in by a passerby, where he charged his phone. The pair eventually rendezvoused with a third, unidentified individual, continuing their flight on foot towards the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, shedding more clothing along the way.

According to charging documents, Patterson and Cardoza reportedly told witnesses they were at Wentworth College for Halloween social activities – a flimsy alibi considering the timing and scope of the alleged crime. The quick response of Harvard University Police and subsequent investigation by the FBI’s Boston Division, led by Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks, quickly identified the suspects. Interim Chief of Harvard University Police Denis Downing also assisted in the investigation.

If convicted of the charge of conspiracy to damage, by means of fire or an explosive, Patterson and Cardoza each face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story.

RELATED: Harvard Bomb Plot: Two Men Arrested in Campus Explosion