14YO Suspect Had Pipe Bomb In Room

One of two juveniles arrested in connection with the shooting of up to 20 vehicles on State Highway 8 last week was retaken into custody after investigators found a pipe bomb during a search of his room Thursday, according to the Latah County Sheriff’s Office. Latah County Prosecutor William Thompson Jr. said authorities rearrested Austin James Rickert Thursday after a PVC pipe stuffed with fireworks powder and primed with a fuse was found in the room he uses at his grandfather’s residence on Forks Road near Helmer. Thompson said the bomb was likely made before the Jan. 22 shooting incident that lasted for more than three hours and temporarily closed the highway between Deary and Bovill/Joel Mills, Lewiston Tribune. Rest of story below.

Question: I’m sure you never found a pipe bomb in a child’s room. What was the oddest thing that you have found (that you can share with fellow Berry Pickers)?

“We don’t have anything to suggest he actually made this device or possessed this device subsequent to his release,” Thompson said.

Authorities allege Rickert and his friend Austin Blake Medlock used two .22-caliber rifles and a crossbow to shoot at vehicles from a three-story fort on Rickert’s grandfather’s property, where the boy sometimes stays.

Most of the bullets hit tractor-trailers, but at least two passenger vehicles were struck. No one was injured, but one round passed through the passenger compartment of one car, narrowly missing two girls.

Thompson said Rickert’s father lives at the Forks Road residence full time. Rickert lives with his mother in Deary but has a room reserved for him at the Forks Road residence, he said.

Deputies were executing a search warrant as part of their investigation into the shootings, according to a news release issued Friday afternoon by sheriff’s Lt. Brannon Jordan. Officials evacuated the area around the home, and a bomb squad from Spokane neutralized the device, Jordan said.

Rickert appeared in court Friday, where he was charged with felony unlawful possession of bombs or destructive devices. Earlier this week, Rickert and Medlock - both 14-year-old freshmen at Deary High School - were charged with unlawfully discharging a firearm at a vehicle in connection with the Jan. 22 shootings.

Latah County Magistrate John Judge released Medlock and Rickert to their parents last week, on the condition neither leave the sight of one of their parents; that all guns be removed from their homes; that they not touch a firearm; that the parents take them to and from school; that they both wear electronic monitoring devices; and they agree to be searched at any time by authorities.

Thompson said Rickert’s rearrest is a separate issue and was not due to a violation of Judge’s conditions for release.

Rickert will remain in the Latah County Jail for the weekend, and probably until scheduling hearings on Wednesday for both juveniles, Thompson said.

Lewis County Magistrate Stephen Calhoun, the regular juvenile judge for Latah County, will handle hearings for Rickert and Medlock from now on, Thompson said.

He said while the investigation into the shootings and the pipe bomb is ongoing, there is nothing to suggest the teens were planning a larger attack.

“What happened last Friday was really serious and really dangerous,” Thompson said. “We’re waiting to see if there is anything else behind this.”

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Mills may be contacted at jmills@lmtribune.com or (208) 883-0564.