Las Vegas, Nevada – Authorities have charged a fourth individual in relation to a pipe bomb explosion outside Piero’s Italian Cuisine last month. Joseph Gutierrez, 18, was taken into custody on Friday and is now facing five felony counts, which include the manufacture or possession of an explosive device, first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson, and transporting an explosive.
Gutierrez is alleged to be part of a conspiracy that involved placing a makeshift explosive outside the restaurant on November 13. Prosecutors noted that the device, constructed within a gas can, posed a significant threat, with potential to cause widespread destruction had it contained more fuel.
The investigation identified four suspects following the release of surveillance footage. The video showed two individuals, one on foot and another on a scooter, near the restaurant in the early hours of that day. Additionally, electronic records helped law enforcement connect the suspects to the incident.
A week after the explosion, three other suspects—John Navarro, 35, Sarah Hernandez, and Phillip Gonzales, 54—were indicted on similar charges, including possessing an explosive and first-degree arson. They are currently being held in custody.
During a court appearance this past Saturday, Justice of the Peace Daniel Westmeyer ordered Gutierrez to be held without bail, noting that he was on parole for a separate case. His bail situation was not reconsidered in subsequent hearings, with a defense attorney appointed in his place.
Gutierrez is also prohibited from approaching Piero’s Italian Cuisine as part of the court’s directives. The situation remains serious, with investigators continuing to piece together the events surrounding the explosion.
As the investigation unfolds, the community is left shaken by the potential ramifications of such violent actions in a bustling Las Vegas neighborhood.