This archive report was first published on 18 August 2019.
On August 16, 2019, a bomb scare disrupted the morning commute in New York City when three suspicious devices were discovered in a subway station and a nearby neighborhood.
The devices, later found to be empty rice cookers, were discovered at the Fulton Street subway station and in the Chelsea neighborhood. The New York Police Department (NYPD) was alerted to the devices at around 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. respectively.
After a thorough investigation, the NYPD announced that the devices were not explosive and posed no danger to the public. The devices were later identified as the same model of rice cooker.
Larry K. Griffin II, 26, was taken into custody in the Bronx on Saturday, August 17, 2019, and charged with three felony counts of placing a false bomb. A motive for the placement of the rice cookers remained unknown.
According to the NYPD, Griffin had been seen on video leaving two devices on the subway platform at the Fulton Street station. His photo was widely distributed, and he was identified as a suspect.
Griffin, a former resident of Bruno, W.Va., had a history of mental illness and had been living on the streets in New York City. His brother, Jason Griffin, said that Griffin had a history of collecting items and had been known to pick up and discard items.
Griffin's cousin, Tara Brumfield, also spoke about his behavior, saying that he had a history of picking up items and leaving them in public places.
The incident on August 16, 2019, was reminiscent of other bombings in New York City, including a 2017 subway bombing and a 2016 Chelsea explosion.
