Report details pipe bomb blast that left man dead

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 | 5:51 p.m.

A 17-year-old boy recovering from injuries related to a pipe bomb blast this past weekend that left a man dead in the northeast valley was no stranger to making explosive devices, according to a Metro Police arrest report released today.

Officers responded at 11:03 p.m. Saturday to a 911 call from the teenager that he and a man were injured when a homemade pipe bomb detonated in a desert area near East San Miguel Avenue and Vornsand Drive, police said. That site is west of the intersection of Las Vegas and Nellis boulevards.

When officers arrived, they found the teen, identified as Mario Librado of Southern California, suffering from injuries to his right hand and arm.

The second man, identified as 44-year-old Arturo Ayala-Martinez, was found in a desert area north of Puebla Street and east of Valmark Drive suffering from burns and trauma to his face and neck, police said.

Both were taken to University Medical Center, where Ayala-Martinez died at 6 a.m. Sunday as a result of his injuries, an arrest report indicated. Librado is expected to recover.

When detectives examined Martinez's body, they noticed he had several cuts on the left side of his face and a wound on the right side of his neck, the report said.

Detectives interviewed Librado from his bed in UMC's trauma center, where he had been alert and answering questions about his medical history, family and how he became injured, the report said.

Librado asked that he talk to detectives without a parent present, and they granted his wish, the arrest report said. During the interview, Librado identified the person with him in the desert as Martinez using a Mexican identification card, the report said.

In the report, Librado describes how he and Martinez went to different stores Saturday and purchased items to build the bomb.

Librado said he made a remote switch to detonate the bomb, using a battery to provide power to the ignition, the report said. He said he tested the switch at Martinez's apartment, 4749 Cessna Ave.

Detectives learned that Librado apparently built the bomb at the apartment then took the assembled device to the desert, where final assembly and detonation occurred, the report said.

When Librado and Martinez got to the desert, the device failed to explode, according to the police report. Both waited a short time before walking back to where they had placed the bomb. Librado said he tried to cut the wires on the bomb when it blew up, injuring both of them.

Librado told police that he had built bombs on several earlier occasions, detonating them in the same desert area where he and Martinez went.

A blood trail led north from the site of the explosion to the area of San Miguel and Puebla, where Librado was found by paramedics and police officers. Librado then directed paramedics and police to Martinez, south of Valmark Street.

Detectives also searched the apartment where Martinez had lived and found several components to make the explosive device in his bedroom. A roommate of Martinez said he was aware that Martinez had been setting off explosives and told him to stop.

Police also found surveillance video and a receipt for the items used in the explosive device.

An arrest warrant was issued Monday for Librado, charging him with murder, possession of a component of explosive or incendiary device with intent to manufacture an explosive or incendiary device, possession of an explosive or incendiary device and willful wanton disregard with substantial bodily harm or death.

Librado was booked into the Clark County Detention Center in absentia while he recovers from his wounds at UMC, police said.

Police are seeking to try Librado as an adult. First he will appear in juvenile court before being processed in the adult judicial system, police said. Bail hasn't been set on the charges.

A Metro Police spokesman said Tuesday the investigation is ongoing.