Dozens of Pipe Bombs Found in Suburban NY Apartment

Resident Raymond Elders, 65, arrested after neighbors reported loud booms for weeks

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:23am

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Police discovered more than two dozen pipe bombs inside a White Plains, New York apartment while investigating an explosive device found on a nearby street. Resident Raymond Elders, 65, was arrested and charged with use of a weapon of mass destruction after authorities found the pipe bombs and explosive-making materials in his apartment. Elders had black and blue residue on his hands and was holding a lighter when police took him into custody.

Why it matters

The discovery of the pipe bombs and arrest of Elders has raised concerns about public safety in the suburban White Plains neighborhood, where residents had been reporting loud booms for weeks prior to the police investigation. The incident also highlights the potential threat of homemade explosives and the challenges law enforcement face in identifying and preventing such threats in residential areas.

The details

Police were responding to reports of a possible transformer explosion after a powerful boom shook the neighborhood around 4:30 a.m. on Monday. Officers discovered a mysterious explosive device near Elders' doorway, leading to a search of his apartment where they found 25 complete pipe bombs and explosive-making materials. Surveillance footage from March 18 allegedly captured Elders standing in the middle of the street, lighting a device, and then throwing it into the street. Authorities believe the hoard of explosives may be tied to a neighbor dispute, but an official motive has not been released.

  • On March 18, surveillance footage allegedly captured Elders lighting a device and throwing it into the street.
  • On Monday, April 1, police responded to reports of a possible transformer explosion around 4:30 a.m. and discovered an explosive device near Elders' doorway.

The players

Raymond Elders

A 65-year-old White Plains resident who was arrested and charged with use of a weapon of mass destruction after police found over two dozen pipe bombs and explosive-making materials in his apartment.

White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety Wade Hardy

Issued a statement assuring residents that the immediate neighborhood is safe and that the subject of interest, a White Plains resident in his 60s, has been turned over to the FBI.

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What they’re saying

“We want to assure the residents of White Plains that their safety remains our highest priority. We can confirm that there are no explosive materials currently present in the first-floor apartment at 11 Odell Avenue, and that the immediate neighborhood is safe.”

— Wade Hardy, White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety

“Those other times I thought someone was going to blow up the block, it was so loud, like they were experimenting. There's a war going on, so you think about that.”

— Yulissa Severino, Nearby Resident

What’s next

The FBI is continuing its investigation into the pipe bomb discovery and Elders' alleged involvement. A judge has ordered Elders to be held in federal custody without bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the serious public safety risks posed by homemade explosives and the challenges law enforcement face in identifying and preventing such threats, especially in residential areas. It also raises concerns about the potential for neighbor disputes to escalate into dangerous situations involving weapons of mass destruction.