19-Year-Old Caught Carrying 2 Pipe Bombs In Duffel Bag

CHEVY CHASE, Md. (WJZ) -- A 19-year-old Montgomery County man tells investigators he was inspired to build bombs by a video he saw on YouTube.

Now, Kyle Druckemiller faces serious charges.

Meghan McCorkell has details on how he got caught.

It was his girlfriend's father who first grew suspicious, searched the teen's duffel bag and made the frightening discovery.

Police say 19-year-old Kyle Druckemiller carried around two pipe bombs inside a duffel bag for months.

The devices were discovered by his girlfriend's father, who says he searched the teen's bag because he was nervous after Druckemiller previously brought a loaded gun into his Germantown home.

Inside, he found two bombs, alligator clips with wires, a nine volt battery, two timers and an improvised detonator.

"In these troubled times, it's very important that law enforcement take these kinds of charges very seriously," said Ramon Korionoff, spokesperson for the Montgomery County State's Attorney.

According to court records, the teen told investigators that he left his apartment in Chevy Chase and traveled to South Carolina to buy fireworks to use in the pipe bombs. Druckemiller told investigators he learned how to make the devices on YouTube.

Neighbors in Chevy Chase are in shock.

"Just hearing that from you is surprising and definitely a little bit concerning considering the current events," said Forrest Young.

"It's a relief he got caught. I think he's probably the one bad apple that spoils a bunch," a neighbor said.

On Druckemiller's Twitter page, he goes by the name "Fuhrer," a title used by Adolf Hitler.

Days before the pipe bombs were found, he Tweeted about blowing up a head of lettuce, telling his girlfriend: "I'll blow it up in front of your house."

Now, the teen faces 25 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.

Druckemiller told investigators while he was in South Carolina, he did ignite one of the devices, which exploded. He said he was scared to light the second one.

Druckemiller is being held on $500,000 bond.