Costa Mesa Man Blows Himself Up

COSTA MESA MAN DEAD
In a drama that apparently began Sunday evening, a man who lives in the Mesa Verde section of Costa Mesa killed himself with some kind of an explosive device - early reports are a pipe bomb - after an earlier visit by emergency personnel because neighbors reported him laying on his lawn.  He apparently refused help at that time and returned to his home.  A short time later neighbors called 911 again after hearing an explosion.

NICE NEIGHBORHOOD, CRUMMY HOUSE
The event occurred at 3152 Bermuda Avenue, at a home that is very obviously ill-kept.  Windows are covered with tin foil, as is the garage door visible on this photo.  News reports last night and this morning included neighbor interviews that described the dead man, Kevin Harris, as a "loner" and a "strange guy".  Reports from the scene indicate that the explosion that took his life did extreme damage to his body.  He blew himself to smithereens!

NUMEROUS AGENCIES ON THE SCENE
It's our understanding that many public safety agencies have been on the scene since last night, and that it now includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Harris apparently has left behind an online manifesto titled "The Picker" - some 18,000+ words - that can be read HERE.  It's our understanding that Mayor Jim Righeimer attended the site both last night and again today - and crossed the crime scene tape.  Of course, I guess that's OK, since he has relatives in the midwest that are police officers.  What an arrogant guy!  The police should have slapped the cuffs on him and put him in the back of a patrol car!

LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE
The Daily Pilot is on the scene and filed a report earlier, HERE.  More on this as information evolves.  At this time none of the residents that were evacuated from the neighboring homes have yet returned.  Reports vary as to the number - 12-16 homes have been described as evacuated last night.