Hand Grenade Found Near Car Is Defused

The bomb squad of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department defused a hand grenade found beneath an Oxnard man’s car early Tuesday.

Six residences were evacuated about 2 a.m. while the bomb was removed. There were no injuries, police said.

The grenade, estimated to be the equivalent of a quarter-stick of dynamite, was found beside the gas tank of Terrance Ledonne’s car, which was parked outside his O’Neill Place home, police said.

Firefighters found the grenade as they extinguished a fire inside the car, allegedly caused by a Molotov cocktail, police said. The fire was put out within minutes and the car received only minor damage, police said.

Witnesses said they heard a car speed away after the firebomb was thrown, but did not see the suspects or their car, police said. Authorities are unsure why the 26-year-old Oxnard resident was targeted.