Neighborhood evacuated after military weaponry found in Lawndale home

LAWNDALE, Calif. (FOX 11/ CNS) - A bomb squad was working Friday to remove items of military ordnance -- some of them ``active'' -- found in the backyard of a Lawndale home, prompting evacuation of about 75-100 neighbors as a precaution.

Explosives experts were sent about 11 p.m. Thursday to the 14700 block of Avis Avenue, near Prairie Avenue and the border with Hawthorne, after the ordnance was reported to have been found on the property, said Deputy Kimberly Alexander of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

Authorities were initially called to the area when someone reported people inside a suspicious vehicle, according to reports from the scene.

Surrounding homes were evacuated as a bomb squad made its way to the scene.

The bomb squad entered the home around 1:30 a.m., according to a news photographer at the scene. Evacuees were bused to Leuzinger High School. No injuries have been reported, Alexander said.

A male who was in the suspicious vehicle was detained for questioning, the sheriff's department reported. Authorities told reporters at the scene that the home was believed to be occupied by transients.

Several military shells were found at the property and were being removed, KNX reported.

Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez told reporters after daybreak that many of the items were inert, but some of the items were ``active,'' and needed to be examined before removal, necessitating the ongoing evacuations for safety reasons.

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