CORNELIUS, Oregon — A 37-year-old man from Oregon has been arrested after authorities say he detonated a bomb outside an apartment complex upon discovering his ex-girlfriend was “hooking up” with another man.
Explosion Rocks Cornelius Neighborhood
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KATU, the explosion occurred around 4 a.m. on Oct. 6 at an apartment on the 200 block of North 10th Street in Cornelius, a suburb located just west of Portland.
A man who lived in the apartment told investigators he opened the door and saw a man dressed in black standing outside. He quickly shut the door but then heard a “tink, tink, tink” sound followed by a blast that sent debris flying through the entryway. Moments later, gunshots were fired into the door, the affidavit said.
Neighbors reported seeing the suspect fleeing the scene on an e-bike, and though the explosion caused significant damage, no one was injured.
Suspect Identified as Ex-Boyfriend
Investigators identified the suspect as Samuel Christian Lund, 37, after his ex-girlfriend told police he had been sending her a series of threatening text messages the day before the explosion.
The woman said Lund became enraged after discovering she was seeing another man, and the messages quickly escalated into violent threats.
“You f—ing turn around and spit in my face… I’m coming for you… I know where you’re at right now… you might as well just f—ing come outside… I’ll be there shortly,” one message read, according to the affidavit.
She also confirmed that Lund owned an e-bike, matching witness descriptions of the fleeing suspect.
Multiple Felony Charges Filed
Court records show Lund now faces a long list of felony charges, including:
- Five counts of attempted murder
- Four counts of unlawful use of a weapon
- Two counts of unlawful manufacture of a destructive device
- One count each of first-degree arson and felon in possession of a firearm
When officers later confronted Lund, he admitted to sending the texts but denied setting off the bomb. However, he told police he had experience with explosives and even mentioned that he kept a bomb in his garage backpack, according to the affidavit.
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Criminal History and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities said Lund has a violent criminal history, including a 2018 conviction for stabbing a man outside a grocery store, for which he served five years in prison.
He is currently being held in the Washington County Jail without bond, and his next court hearing is set for Nov. 17.
Investigators are continuing to examine the explosive materials and weapons recovered from Lund’s property to determine whether additional charges could be filed.
Do you think Oregon needs tougher penalties for repeat violent offenders? Share your opinion in the comments at betheladvocate.com.
