NEWS

Homemade bombs found in Springfield home, fire marshal says

Harrison Keegan
HKEEGAN@NEWS-LEADER.COM

Authorities say they found two homemade bombs inside a west Springfield home earlier this week.

William Rush

William R. Rush, 53, was charged Tuesday with two counts of unlawful possession of an explosive weapon after authorities say they found two improvised explosive devices during a search of his residence.

According to a probable cause statement, a fire marshal with the Springfield Fire Department went to Rush's home at 2542 W. Phelps St. on Monday afternoon after a witness reported seeing improvised explosive devices inside the residence.

Authorities searched the home and quickly found an improvised explosive device in plain view in the living room, the statement says.

The device consisted of a containment vessel, a fuse and explosives. It also had additional shrapnel added to it, according to the statement.

As the search continued, the statement says, authorities found another improvised explosive device in the kitchen and two containers of gun powder in the bedroom.

Rush, who was at the home during the search, told authorities the explosives were his, but he did not make them, according to the statement.

Rush is being held in the Greene County Jail on $20,000 bond. He does not have an attorney listed for this case.

A bond recommendation document says Rush has a pending first-degree burglary case.

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