Suspect in FBI’s Isle of Wight raid threatened to shoot up a school
Isle of Wight County VA Aug 8 2018
A judge in Isle of Wight County denied bond for a suspect accused of having materials that could be used to make firebombs or explosives and threatening to shoot up a school.
Paul Longoria appeared in Isle of Wight Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Monday, nearly a week after FBI officials raided his home and found sections of pipe, wire, triggers and other components that could be used to make incendiary devices, as well as chemicals from which “fire bombs or explosives can be made,” according to court records.
Longoria, 32, was arrested July 31 following a 12-hour raid at his home in the upscale Graystone neighborhood of Carrollton.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Georgette Phillips said FBI officials originally executed a search warrant for Longoria because they suspected he had posted in an anonymous online chat site that he wanted to shoot up a school with an AR-15. The school was not identified.
FBI officials were looking for electronic devices that might have been used to post the threat. Several law enforcement agencies assisted in the search.
While searching the house, local law enforcement found items “that caused them concern,” such as switches, wire and chemicals that “bomb technicians would say are commonly used in incendiary devices,” Phillips said.
In a criminal complaint filed against Longoria, investigators said “members of the household admitted to buying 19 pounds of gunpowder for reloading ammunition, but had never actually used any for that purpose.”
The complaint also indicates Longoria admitted to owning items found, but he told agents “that he routinely used various chemicals and batteries for a number of purposes, to include art and business ventures.”
Phillips said Judge Wallace Brittle denied Longoria bond because “he felt that the defendant was a threat to the community.”
She said Longoria’s father and a bishop from Longoria’s church were at the bond hearing in support of Longoria, who has epilepsy.
Longoria, who is unemployed according to his bail determination checklist, has retained a lawyer, Stephen Plott, who will appeal the judge’s decision to deny bond at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 15.
His preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 18.
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