Man Planted Bomb in Ex-Landlord’s Lawn Mower After Being Evicted

What started as a routine yard job nearly turned deadly for one Pennsylvania landlord—after his lawn mower exploded in what authorities now say may have been a targeted bombing.

David Martin was just trying to mow the grass at his rural rental property in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, on the afternoon of July 20 when things took a terrifying turn. According to a police affidavit, Martin had just started his Club Cadet zero-turn lawn mower when a sudden explosion erupted beneath him.

“I thought it was a bomb,” Martin told investigators after dialing 911 around 4:30 p.m.

The blast jolted him forward, and he quickly leapt from the mower and fled the garage. It wasn’t just loud—it was destructive. When authorities arrived, they discovered metal shrapnel scattered throughout the garage bay, scorched debris, and signs of a makeshift explosive device. Components recovered at the scene included pipe fragments, zip ties, nails, wires, and even battery parts—classic hallmarks of an improvised bomb.

Martin wasn’t seriously injured, but the incident sparked a major investigation involving local law enforcement, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Suspicion quickly turned to 54-year-old James Sever, a former tenant Martin had evicted just weeks earlier. Investigators say Sever had returned to the property after his eviction and made ominous threats. “You’re going to end up getting yourself hurt over this,” he reportedly told Martin during a June 11 confrontation.

Then, five weeks later—the explosion.

Police say a witness who was raking grass nearby at the time of the blast ran to the garage and helped extinguish a wooden cat box that had caught fire. Inside the building, authorities found more pipe fragments embedded in the walls, suggesting a deliberate and forceful blast.

Things continued to unravel for Sever. Phone records placed him near the property the night before the explosion for nearly an hour. Investigators also matched tire tracks at the scene to Sever’s white Dodge Ram 1500. A search of the truck turned up items consistent with the device—black zip ties and clothing matching witness descriptions.

A neighbor told police that Sever showed up the day of the explosion wearing a red shirt and dark shorts, acting nervous and erratic, and talking about his eviction. Another former neighbor told investigators that Sever had previously made explosive threats during a dispute about chimney smoke. “I’ll blow that motherf–er up,” he allegedly said.

Authorities filed an arrest warrant for Sever on Friday, though he has not yet been taken into custody. Police say he is known to frequent wooded areas near Derry and Blairsville and have urged the public to call 911 if he’s spotted.

Sever is facing a laundry list of serious charges, including attempted homicide, aggravated assault, possessing weapons of mass destruction, and risking catastrophe. For now, the hunt is on—and one Pennsylvania community remains on edge.