Syosset High School Swastika Investigation Leads to Explosives Discovery and Arrest of Father and Son

Syosset High School's swastika graffiti leads to the discovery of explosives at a teen's home. Father Francisco Sanles and his son arrested in a HAZMAT probe.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 1:27 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from News 12, Daily Voice, VINnews, and LongIsland.com.

From Graffiti to a HAZMAT Crisis

The investigation began on Wednesday afternoon after a swastika was found drawn in a male restroom at Syosset High School on Southwoods Road. Nassau County detectives identified a 15-year-old student as the suspect and proceeded to his residence on Patricia Lane for further questioning. Upon arrival, officers discovered several chemical containers that had been intentionally combined to create explosive materials. The severity of the find prompted an immediate evacuation of the teen's home and surrounding residences, while the FBI, Nassau County Arson/Bomb Squad, Fire Marshal, and Hazardous Material Response Team (HAZMAT) were called to the scene to secure the area.

A Controlled Detonation and Safe Removal

Neighboring residents reported hearing a loud bang during the investigation, which was later confirmed by law enforcement sources as a controlled ignition. Due to the extreme volatility of at least one of the chemical mixtures found, bomb squad technicians determined it could not be safely transported and initiated a controlled detonation on the property out of an abundance of caution. No injuries were reported, and the remaining hazardous materials were carefully cataloged and removed by the HAZMAT team for further forensic analysis.

Charges Against Francisco Sanles and His Son

Investigators determined that the teen's father, Francisco Sanles, 48, had personally financed the purchase of the chemicals on multiple occasions. Sanles was taken into custody on April 22 and faces several severe felony charges, including two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of fourth-degree criminal facilitation, reckless endangerment, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Sanles was scheduled for arraignment on Thursday, April 23, at the First District Court in Hempstead. Under New York law, first-degree criminal possession of a weapon is among the most serious charges and can carry a significant prison sentence.