BY: ABQ RAW staff
POSTED: 09/21/2023 @ 4:50PM
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Kelsey Waggoner, 47, of Albuquerque
Albuquerque –
On September 20, 2023, just after 4:15PM, Albuquerque Police officers were dispatched to 137 Vermont St. NE, in response to reports of a suspicious person, which escalated into a bomb threat situation.
The caller, identified as Kelsey Waggoner, 47, of Albuquerque, claimed to have placed multiple explosive devices, one inside the business and another on the windshield of a Nissan Murano parked in the vicinity. Kelsey continuously changed their location, eventually settling at the Walmart on 400 Eubank Blvd NE.
Waggoner’s multiple interactions with law enforcement before and on September 20, 2023, revealed alarming statements, including his intention to use explosives to deter perceived threats and provoke a police response.
Officers located Waggoner at Walmart, and upon investigating the Nissan Murano, discovered a potentially lethal explosive device with wires protruding from its roof. The Bomb Squad was immediately summoned, and the area was evacuated as a precaution. X-rays confirmed the device’s hazardous nature, revealing the presence of smokeless powder, a light bulb for ignition, and nails as shrapnel, all within a cylinder container. Waggoner indicated the presence of three explosive devices: two inside the business and one on the vehicle, all intended to harm an individual.
In light of Waggoner’s statements and the physical evidence, he has been charged with the possession and manufacture of explosive devices. Waggoner was apprehended at Walmart and taken into custody without further incident. It is unclear if federal charges will be adopted with the improvised explosive devices.
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