Six teens arrested for ‘MacGyver bomb’ set off in school parking lot

Six teenagers have been charged with disorderly conduct for setting off a “MacGyver bomb” last week in the parking lot of an elementary school in west suburban West Chicago.

The teens — who live in West Chicago, Carol Stream and Malta — were each charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and reckless conduct, the DuPage County sheriff’s office said Friday.

Investigators were called about 10:30 a.m. on May 1 after a plastic bottle exploded in the parking lot of Indian Knoll Elementary School, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies arrived and determined the bottle was used as a “chemical reaction device commonly known as a MacGyver bomb,” the sheriff’s office said. They searched the school and grounds as a precautionary measure, but no other devices were found.

No injuries were reported, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Thoughtless actions such as this could have severe unintended consequences,” Sheriff John Zaruba said in a statement. “I would like to remind every citizen that if they should see any suspicious activity in their neighborhood, parks or school grounds they should immediately contact their local police agency.”