Teen faces charges over exploding pen

A North Carolina teenager who authorities say brought an exploding pen to his school is in jail after his home was emptied of explosive chemicals easily found at pharmacies and hardware stores.

The 16-year-old faces several charges including felonies. His bond was set at $500,000.

He was arrested Monday after an exploding pen burned the hand and sent fragments into the arm of a fellow student at their Charlotte alternative school. Three firefighters later suffered burns as they tested a substance in his home.

The boy's grandmother told multiple media outlets the teen is a bit of a loner whose favorite subject is science. She says she thinks he was trying to stage a prank.