Pipe bomb injures Petaluma teen

A Petaluma teenager was injured late Saturday in an apparent pipe bomb explosion, police said.

The 18-year-old was walking past a portable bathroom near the baseball fields of Lucchesi Park at about 10:30 p.m. when he heard a loud bang and felt an injury to his back, Sgt. Andrew Urton said.

He flagged down a police officer, who found the teen was losing large amounts of blood. The officer administered first aid until an ambulance arrived to take the victim to a hospital, where he was in stable condition.

His name was not released.

An inspection of the portable bathroom turned up evidence that a pipe bomb had been detonated inside.

The shrapnel from the pipe bomb had blown through all the walls and roof. A piece of shrapnel hit the victim and caused the injury, Urton said.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit responded to assist at the scene.

An investigation is ongoing.

—Paul Payne