Student Charged With Bus Stop Explosion

Public Information Officer Debra Johnson told local St. Johns County reporters with Historic City News that deputies in Flagler County have arrested an 18 year-old Pathways Academy student around 6:52 a.m. yesterday morning after he allegedly caused an explosion at his bus stop.

Witnesses told Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies that while waiting for the morning school bus Giuseppe Verdone, Jr., who resides on Bannerwood Lane in Palm Coast, took a bottle and added a mixture of household cleaner and another substance. Verdone placed the bottle in the grass at the Bird of Paradise and Biscayne Drive bus top. A few minutes later, the bottle exploded.

A witness contacted the Flagler County School District which notified the bus garage. The bus driver was instructed to stop at a safe location and wait for law enforcement.

Verdone was taken into custody at the Home Depot parking lot in Palm Coast.

After questioning by investigators, the teenager was charged with two felonies; possession or discharge of a destructive device at a bus stop and discharging a destructive device.
“Teenagers often fail to realize the dangers of experimenting with these homemade explosives. Unfortunately, bad decisions such as bringing the device to a bus stop, could have put other teenagers and youngsters at risk for serious injury,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming.

Verdone was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility and was being held Tuesday afternoon on $1,000 bond.