Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Men go on trial in bombing of Henderson clothing store

Burlington Coat Factory Bombing Case

John Morgan talks with his attorney, Marty Hart, during jury selection Tuesday.  Morgan and another man, Roger Jenkins, are accused of setting a pipe bomb off inside the Burlington Coat Factory store in Henderson earlier this year. Launch slideshow »
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John Morgan

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Roger Jenkins

Burlington Coat Factory

A trial began on Wednesday for two Henderson men accused of detonating chemical bombs on April 21 in a Henderson clothing store.

John Morgan, 28, and Roger Jenkins, 42, are charged with burglary, two counts of use of an explosive device to damage property, two counts of manufacturing or possessing an explosive device, five counts of possession of credit or debit cards without the cardholder’s consent, conspiracy to manufacture and posses an explosive device, possession of burglary tools and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges and claim they were not in the store at the time of the explosions, according to court records.

Prosecutors expect to call nearly 20 witnesses to testify during the three-day trial in Clark County District Court.

About 20 employees and 30 customers were in the Burlington Coat Factory, 560 N. Stephanie St., about a half hour before the store closed at 9 p.m. that night.

Authorities say Morgan walked in at about 8:15 p.m. and was in the store for about 10 minutes before the explosions occurred.

Several employees reported their eyes burned or were irritated but there were no serious injuries.

The two bombs, made of household supplies, damaged merchandise, the carpet and walls and a folding table.

After the explosion, a store security guard followed a black Infinity SUV and called police.

Henderson police arrested Jenkins and Morgan a short while later across the street in another shopping center.

The arresting officer testified today that she found a 9 mm Luger bullet in Morgan's pocket.

Officer April Arntt testified she mistakenly wrote in her report that she found the bullet in Jenkins' pocket.

Investigators found a 9 mm gun in the vehicle. The SUV was registered to Jenkins.

Police also recovered stolen credit cards and identification from a woman who reported a burglary from her Summerlin home on March 5.

The woman testified that two charges were made the day the cards were stolen. She said thieves took two computers, jewelry and money but those items were never recovered.

CORRECTION: This story was updated to clarify discrepancies between an initial police report and testimony in court about weapons. Jenkins' age was also corrected. | (October 8, 2009)

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