Las Vegas, Nevada – An 18-year-old suspect is facing multiple felony charges after setting off an explosive inside a church in Henderson. Caden Renard, along with his twin brother Connor Renard, has been accused of 16 charges, including possession and use of explosives to damage property. The incident, which took place on March 27, led to the injury of four individuals at the church’s gymnasium.
Police investigations revealed that the Renard brothers had engaged in similar activities prior to the explosion. An incident on February 24, where they disabled the church’s power and ignited a bottle rocket, went unreported until later. Witnesses saw the burn marks and patterns caused by the explosion, indicating the detonation of an explosive device at the site.
Through witness statements and video evidence, the authorities were able to identify the suspects as students at Basic High School. During a police interview, Caden Renard initially denied involvement but later confessed after being presented with overwhelming evidence. His motivation, as stated to the police, was simply that he “thought it would be fun” to set off the explosive device inside the church.
Connor Renard, on the other hand, admitted to being present during the incident but claimed that someone else threw the explosive into the gymnasium. The suspects, who were not affiliated with the church, have no apparent motives for their actions. Both brothers were arrested and are scheduled to appear in Henderson Justice Court on May 13.
The Henderson Police Department, along with other investigative resources, worked diligently to apprehend the suspects and gather evidence to support the charges against them. The community was left shaken by the incidents at the church, highlighting the importance of swift and thorough law enforcement responses to such dangerous activities. The case serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of reckless behavior involving explosives and the need for vigilant monitoring to prevent similar incidents in the future.