Second suspect identified in Syracuse vending machine bombing case

A second man has now been identified in the Syracuse vending machine bombing case, sharpening investigators’ picture of what happened inside a commercial building on Oak Street and how quickly the suspects got away. A criminal complaint filed in Syracuse City Court accuses Strauthmeek Hosea, 21, of arson, criminal mischief and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the April 10 blast at 404 Oak St.

The complaint says Hosea allegedly placed an explosive device inside a pink vending machine in the front lobby area of the office building. The explosion destroyed the machine and damaged the lobby. Surveillance video captured the crime, and after the blast, Hosea allegedly left the building, got into the passenger seat of a white 2019 Dodge Ram and fled before Syracuse police pulled the truck over. A large emergency response followed, with police, firefighters and a bomb squad converging on the scene around 1:42 p.m.

The new filing adds to the case against Bay E. Rosario, 30, who was identified earlier as the other defendant. That complaint accused Rosario of helping Hosea plant the device and flee in the Ram, which Rosario is listed as the owner of. Rosario is also accused of trying to hide a silver .357 Smith & Wesson revolver beneath a Toyota RAV4 parked at 110 Wolf St.; investigators said he did not have a permit to own the weapon.

Together, the complaints suggest prosecutors are building a two-person case rather than treating the blast as a lone act of vandalism. That matters for the timeline and the alleged plan itself, because the accusations now include not only the placement of the explosive, but also the getaway, the truck, and the firearm recovery tied to a separate location in Syracuse.

Authorities have not publicly released a motive, leaving unanswered why a machine selling cupcakes and other baked goods was targeted inside a building that could have exposed nearby tenants, workers and visitors to far greater danger. No injuries were reported, but the blast damaged a lobby in the middle of the workday and raised immediate concerns about public safety in and around the building.

The owner, Kadesha Carter, confirmed on GoFundMe that the machine belonged to her and said it was destroyed by an explosive intentionally placed inside by an ex-boyfriend. Carter’s business sells homemade cookies, brownies and other baked goods, and she asked for $3,000 to help recover. The fund had brought in just over $2,300 when the report was published, a reminder that the financial fallout for a small local business can linger long after the smoke clears.