A DeBary man hoarding bomb-making materials hated the government and had planned to use a grenade in a booby trap to hurt first responders, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said.

  • Christopher S. Langer charged with making destructive device
  • Deputies, ATF agents, hazmat called to DeBary home Sunday night
  • Investigators said they found bomb-making chemicals, powders at home
  • Volusia Sheriff: Langer wanted to hurt first-responders
  • RELATED: Deputies find possible explosive device at DeBary home

Christopher S. Langer told his parents he put an explosive substance inside a grenade "to get even with the system," Chitwood said during a news conference Monday morning.

Langer is being held in the Volusia County Branch Jail, charged with making and possessing a destructive device.

The incident started as a domestic disturbance call at around 4:11 p.m. Sunday, in the Saxon Woods subdivision on the 120th block of Bradwick Circle. An "intoxicated" Langer had told his parents he "put an explosive substance inside a grenade," the Sheriff's Office said.

When a deputy asked about a grenade, the 31-year-old Langer claimed he did not have one but then admitted that he threw it outside, the Sheriff's Office said.


Christopher S. Langer, 31 (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)

The bomb squad, agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and a hazmat team raced to the scene. In the yard, investigators found a "metal pineapple-style grenade with a paper clip in place" to keep it from blowing up, they said.

A bomb squad robot found other possible small explosive devices, officials said.

Inside the home, investigators found about 200 containers of powders and liquids such as nitric acid, bodily fluids and household chemicals. Chitwood added that urine can be used as fuel for bombs.

 

 

 

 

Chitwood said law enforcement officials detonated the grenade, and they think it may have been a possible booby trap. Also, small canisters were found buried underground, he said.

"He did everything but take that one step to creating in my opinion a weapon of mass destruction," said Sheriff Chitwood.

The sheriff also gave an explanation of a possible motive for why Langer allegedly was building bombs.

"'I am anti-government. I'm against the system and I'm looking to get even with the system and hurt first responders,'" Chitwood said Langer told deputies. Chitwood said that Langer also had in his bedroom a white mask that anti-government groups wear, a possible reference to Guy Fawkes masks.

"This would have been a major event here," Chitwood said. "Who knows what was inside his mind, because he already professed a hate for the government and hate for the system and talked about wanting to maim first responders."

Chitwood said first responders recently saved Langer's life by administering narcan, an anti-narcotic, after he allegedly overdosed.

An initial bond set for $5,000 was revoked Monday. A judge said he may be back for another court appearance Tuesday on a different, unknown charge.

Langer held under Baker Act multiple times

Langer is no stranger to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

Langer was recently arrested in September, October and over this past weekend. His past arrests were on charges of dealing stolen property, grand theft, obtaining substance, and trafficking pain pills.

On Sunday, his dad called 911 call from after Langer got into an argument with his parents.

Langer's dad told the dispatcher they’ve had problems in the past where it escalates to the point that they can’t have him at the home.

"My adult son is drunk, he is boisterous, he’s knocking furniture down, he’s just out of control," Langer's father told the dispatcher.

Langer told the dispatcher he only had three drinks and there were no weapons in the home.

"Really nothing that y’all should be concerned with," Langer said.

Chitwood said Langer had a lot of grievances with law enforcement and the government. On his Facebook page, Langer shared a post about being against police brutality. He allegedly was also not a fan of first responders.

Deputies said they not only found explosives but heroin inside his home as well.

Chitwood said first responders came to Langer’s home a couple of weeks ago to save his life when he overdosed on drugs.

“He’s a heroin addict that’s been baker acted four times, who’s really an insignificant human being, but he can make himself (expletive) significant if he mixes all that stuff together and delivers death and destruction in our community,” said Sheriff Chitwood.

Deputies also said Langer has been held under the Baker Act four times.

"It's pretty scary," neighbor Connie Harriger said. "I guess you don’t really ever know your neighbors, because I walk my dogs by there every day and never imagined anything like that was going on in the house."


Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said during a news conference Monday that Langer had wanted to harm first responders and was anti-government. (Spectrum News 13)