Two college students from Massachusetts are accused of orchestrating and executing an explosion involving a “large commercial firework” within a Harvard Medical School laboratory, as reported by federal officials.
Logan David Patterson, 18, hailing from Plymouth, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 20, from Bourne, have been apprehended and are facing federal charges. They stand accused of conspiring to damage a structure on Harvard Medical School’s (HMS) campus using an explosive device.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has stated that both individuals are charged with one count of conspiracy to damage the Goldenson Building. This facility, located within the prestigious Ivy League university, is dedicated to neuroscience research.
The arrests took place on Tuesday morning, followed by their appearance in federal court in Boston that same afternoon. A preliminary hearing is set for November 24.
The Harvard University Police Department released surveillance images capturing the two masked suspects as they fled the scene at the time of the explosion on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
The federal complaint notes that Patterson and Cardoza were reportedly visiting the Wentworth Institute of Technology campus for Halloween festivities. They were observed together from October 31 into the early hours of November 1.
According to an FBI affidavit, surveillance cameras captured the pair walking toward the HMS campus at approximately 2:33 a.m. wearing face coverings and dark clothing. Moments later, video allegedly shows them igniting what appeared to be “Roman candle-style fireworks,” before continuing toward campus.
About 10 minutes later, they were allegedly seen climbing over a chain-link fence into a construction area surrounding the Goldenson Building, and, minutes later, scaling scaffolding beside the structure to access the roof.
At 2:45 a.m., a fire alarm sounded after an explosion inside a fourth-floor research lab in HMS’s Department of Neurobiology. Investigators later determined a “large commercial firework” detonated inside a wooden locker.
Ted Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI, speaks at a news conference announcing the arrests of two men in a weekend explosion at Harvard Medical School, as U.S. Attorney Leah Foley looks on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Casey)
Ted Docks, the special agent in charge of the FBI in Boston, said the suspects’ actions could have led to serious injuries.
“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 said.
Between 2:45 and 2:50 a.m., Patterson and Cardoza were allegedly seen visiting the fifth floor before exiting the building and fleeing in opposite directions.
According to prosecutors, surveillance video captured Cardoza minutes later sitting on a bench, removing his pants and throwing them in a garbage bin.
Patterson was seen back on the nearby Wentworth campus around 3:09 a.m., running between buildings and charging his phone, authorities said.
At approximately 3:40 a.m., Patterson reportedly met up with Cardoza and a third individual, and the trio were seen walking toward the Massachusetts College of Art and Design campus. In the video, Patterson had removed his sweatshirt and sweatpants, while Cardoza was still wearing a dark hooded jacket and black sneakers.
Witnesses later identified the two men as Patterson and Cardoza, saying that they had been visiting Wentworth for Halloween events.
Officials said a “large commercial firework” detonated inside a wooden locker at Harvard Medical School. (Spencer Jones/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The FBI affidavit also cites the suspects’ public Instagram accounts, linking the pair together prior to the incident.
“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 filing states.
The accounts, reviewed by Fox News Digital, display an identical profile picture, consistent with the image cited in the affidavit.
Both social media accounts include a small number of public posts showing high school graduation scenes, sports and spending time with friends.
Special agents and officers with the FBI Boston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and Harvard University Police Department announced the arrests Tuesday in an explosion at Harvard Medical School. (FBI Boston/X)
Both men were charged with conspiracy to damage, by means of an explosive, property owned or used by an institution receiving federal funding.
