One Student Injured, Another Arrested in Bottle Bomb Explosion at El Capitan High

Santee Sheriff's deputies and firefighters responded to the report of a bottle bomb explosion at El Capitan High School on Tuesday at 2:15 p.m.

According to the Sheriff's Department, the bottle bomb exploded inside a metal trash can in a classroom and caused minor injuries to a passing student, who was taken to a hospital. Because the explosion was within an isolated classroom, no evacuations of the school were made.

A bottle bomb is generally understood to be a mixture of various chemicals within a plastic bottle, often involving dry ice, that is simple to make and bursts under high pressure. The Sheriff's Department did not give details about the construction of this bottle bomb.

The Sheriff's bomb/arson unit responded and swept the area to check for other devices on campus, and none were found. HAZMAT also came to the scene to check for residual chemicals that might be dangerous to staff or students.

Classes are due to go on as normal tomorrow.

The Sheriff's department reports that a student was detained concerning the bottle bomb, interviewed and subsequently booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of felonies related to making an explosive device. No identifying information was released about the juvenile suspect.