A 55-year-old Oakland man is facing felony charges after authorities say he set a device next to a car occupied by two people earlier this month, then walked away as it detonated, shattering the windshield and injuring one of the occupants. Police found the man nearby and booked him, and prosecutors allege he deliberately placed the device beside the car before leaving the area.
Allegations from court filings
According to Mercury News, court filings say the man parked next to a vehicle with two people inside, took an “unknown device” out of his trunk and set it beside the car before walking away. The filings state the device “exploded as Igondjo walked away,” damaging the vehicle’s windshield and leaving a woman inside with a visible injury. Authorities arrested him in the 2300 block of Webster Street, and records list his age as 55.
Charges and legal exposure
Prosecutors have charged the defendant with possessing a destructive device, assault with a deadly weapon and exploding a bomb causing bodily injury. Under California law, possession of a destructive device is covered by Penal Code §18710, while the offense involving an explosion that causes bodily injury is addressed in the statutes and jury instructions tied to Penal Code §18750. Those offenses can carry multi-year prison terms, depending on enhancements and the facts alleged. See California Penal Code §18710 and the Judicial Council's CALCRIM No. 2577 for the elements and possible penalties.
East Bay context
Explosive-device incidents are relatively rare in Oakland, but they tend to trigger an all-hands response when they do happen. The San Francisco Chronicle has previously reported on East Bay cases involving thrown or improvised explosive devices, and federal prosecutors have brought arson and firebomb prosecutions in recent years, underscoring that improvised explosive attacks are treated as a high priority. Those earlier cases have left local investigators and prosecutors especially alert to reports of makeshift explosives.
What happens next
The defendant pleaded not guilty at a court appearance and was released after posting $50,000 bail, according to Mercury News. The case will now move through the Alameda County courts, where prosecutors are expected to present additional evidence at pretrial hearings and the defense may attempt to challenge the filings. Anyone with information about the early-morning incident is asked to contact investigators through the channels listed in the public court records.
