4 Injured as Bomb Explodes in Vallejo Home

VALLEJO, Calif. — Four people were injured Sunday when a package addressed to one resident exploded inside the family’s home, police said.

The package, wrapped as a Christmas present, had been hand-delivered and was left on the front porch, police Lt. Ron Jackson said. The gift was addressed to 15-year-old Malcolm Penton, who brought the package inside. It blew up about 2:20 p.m., police said.

“The bomb was a container--like a Christmas candy canister--and we believe it had some type of relatively sophisticated switching device in it,” Jackson said.

The teenager was being treated at Alta Bates Medical Center in Oakland for first- and second-degree burns on his face, arms and chest, police said. His brother, Marco, 14, and a friend, Ricky Lumsey, 17, suffered first-degree burns to their faces. The Pentons’ mother, Angela Bass, 42, sustained first-degree burns, police said.

Federal agents had retrieved the bomb and were pursuing several leads, Jackson said.