Charges Filed in First “Bottle Bombing” Case

Manuel Joyner, 20, was arrested June 1 by officers from the Prince George’s County Office of the Fire Marshal with help from county police

The suspect in a series of "bottle bomb" cases has been charged in the first.

Manuel Joyner-Bell, 20, was charged in Anne Arundel County with one felony count of use/manufacture of a destructive device and one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment. More charges could be filed.

Joyner-Bell is accused of the March 8 bottle bombing at Cinemark Egyptian 24 Theatre at Arundel Mills Mall.

Joyner-Bell is a suspect in bottle bomb cases at five theaters in Maryland and Virginia. He was arrested June 1 by officers from the Prince George’s County Office of the Fire Marshal with help from county police.

An online trail led police straight to Joyner, who admitted to setting off six bottle bombs at local movie theaters. Prince George's County police say Joyner was the only person who used the website Fandango.com to purchase movie tickets for the six shows during which bottle bombs exploded.

There have been no injuries in any of the cases, but authorities have said they can be considered acts of terrorism.

Contact Us