Mesilla middle school student suspended for having a pipe bomb

A pipe bomb was discovered in the backpack of a Las Cruces middle school student.

Initially, according to Las Cruces Police, an officer retrieved what was thought to be a firecracker Tuesday from Mesilla Valley Middle School located in Mesilla Park.

A student tip to an administrator led police to a 7th grade male student who had the device in his backpack.

At noon on Wednesday, a member of the Dona Ana Sheriff’s Office bomb squad retrieved the explosive device from Las Cruces Police and later determined it was a pipe bomb.

DASO officials say the device was about 3 inches long with PVC piping, explosive material and a fuse and had enough power to “blow one’s hands off,” according to DASO officials .

An LCPD spokesman tells ABC-7 the student was issued a class 3 citation for “negligent use of an explosive.”

An Las Cruces Public Schools spokesperson tells ABC-7 the student has been short term suspended and referred to the juvenile assessment referral center where the child can receive help with problems and avoid jail and or the juvenile probation system.