Calif. man killed in house explosion; bombs found in home

COSTA MESA, Calif. A man was blown up in his California home and at least 16 neighbors were evacuated as authorities found and destroyed other homemade explosive devices, police said Monday.

A bomb squad descended on the quiet street of ranch homes in the Orange County city of Costa Mesa after the 52-year-old man died in the Sunday night blast.

About 90 minutes earlier, neighbors reported seeing the man lying on his front lawn but said he refused offers of help and went inside his home.

Police were called about 7:30 p.m. after neighbors heard the explosion, and the man was found dead.

"We were in the house when we heard the explosion," Laurie, a neighbor, told CBS Los Angeles. "We always hear fireworks or whatever and didn't think much of it until the cops showed up."

Police suspect he was killed by some sort of homemade explosive, but investigators had not determined whether the blast was suicide or an accident.

At least three other explosive devices were later found at the home, police Sgt. Jerry Hildeman said.

Neighbors from surrounding homes remained evacuated until the house was declared safe, police said.

The FBI, an Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad and other agencies responded to the scene.

Neighbors say the victim had a very strong dislike for the government, CBS Los Angeles reports.