Teen Arrested In UES Starbucks Explosion, Inspired By Fight Club

A movie still from Fight Club at left, Kyle Shaw's Facebook profile image at right

Updated: Police have arrested 17-year-old Kyle Shaw in the May 25 incident where a crude bomb was set off in front of the Starbucks at Third Avenue and 92nd Street. And what's more, it turns out that Shaw was trying to emulate the film Fight Club—in particular, Tyler Durden. This is so not What Would Tyler Durden Do but it is what Gothamist commenter Rocknrope guessed on May 25 with his comment: "Project Mayhem."

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that Shaw had bragged to a friend that he should watch the news on Memorial Day weekend and that Shaw even formed a version of Fight Club in Central Park (one kid got a broken nose). Kelly said, "His statements indicated he was launching his own Project Mayhem."

For those of you who need to brush up on your Fight Club knowledge, here's the Wikipedia entry, which says Project Mayhem is "a cult-like organization that trains itself as an army to bring down modern civilization. This organization, like the fight club, is controlled by a set of rules," which includes "You don't ask questions," "You don't ask questions," "No excuses," "No lies," and "You have to trust Tyler."

The bomb, made out of explosive flash powder, had been set under the bench outside the Starbucks. Shaw, who graduated from City As School High School, lives on West 27th Street. According to CityRoom, police apparently found a Fight Club DVD on him as well as sparklers AND a clipping about the blast in his possession (the Post says the sparklers and DVD were in his home).

Shaw is apparently not connected to the incidents at the British consulate in 2005 (bomb), Mexican consulate in 2007 (grenades), and Times Square recruiting station last year (bomb). Some witnesses had said two teens were seen running from the Starbucks (which was confirmed by video surveillance footage; no one was hurt in the blast, just some blown out windows and rattled nerves. The Daily News reports, "It was unclear if cops were hunting for a second suspect in the bombing."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on July 15, 2009 3:28 PM

Comments [rss]

mo

don't put city-as-school down.alot of the kids who go there are kids who had problems at other schools be it getting beat up, robbed at school etc.,they usually do not put up with trouble at this school .no gang bangers permitted.they run a very good program at the school. one rotten apple should not spoil it for all the kids that have gone to that school since the 70's. a number of well know people have graduated from there

FlyingSpaghettiMonster

"Our Mission:

City-As-School’s mission is to create learning environments based on external, experiential education. Education at City-As-School is individualized, helping young people to reach their full potential."

Watch movies. Make bombs. Graduate.

jpeditor

" Project Mayhem is "a cult-like organization that trains itself as an army to bring down modern civilization. "

Sounds like Øbama and the Rahmulan.

NannyState

That Starbucks bomber dude is one scone cold assassin.

jamieob256

I like your comment -- very clever!

firewire

guy in the white undershirt in the movie still is totally checking out brad pitt's ass.

ah, the things you notice in freeze-frame.

rukii

Holy shit! I went to elementary school with this kid. Nice going, bozo.

inoyourider

My 2 cent diagnosis:

Megalomania most likely induced by a mental disorder and social isolation. His actions got him the attention he craved and so he escalated his actions.

Global Wombat

I haven't been fucked like that since Grade School.

militza

nothing more sexy than a guy wearing aviator sunglasses, a wife-beater and striking a weird martial arts pose.

Guest

Anyone caught with sparklers in their possession should automatically be put on the terrorist watch list.

ANGRYGOD11

First Rule Of Prison Fight Club:

Skinny White Meat, it's what's for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time.

citizenerased

I cannot emphasise this enough - what a fucking idiot.

binarycool

Looking for a second suspect would be a waste of time. Kyle Shaw IS Tyler Durden.

Tpooh2

That or giving his best MJ impression ;-)

flynn110

is he hacking the sack in that pic?

Guest

hits a pick from his bar mitzvah

Hava nagila Hava nagila Hava nagila !!!

jaycjay

"police apparently found a Fight Club DVD on him"

Expect Dov Hikind to call for banning that DVD.

winstonsmith

i am jack's complete lack of surprise.

Felix Hoenikker

Bwahahaha. This was the predicted outcome when this first showed up on Gothamist.

longacre

Instead, Kelly said, Shaw was driven by his love of "Fight Club," forming a group that brawled in Central Park, then stepping it up a notch, forming "Project Mayhem," a group of anti-social terrorists who want to take down corporate America, even targeting a Starbucks.
These kind of kids are only supposed to exist in flyover states and the Middle East, where they channel their boredom and hopelessness into school massacres and suicide bombings.

jaycjay

Riiigght... Because there are never any disaffected, anti-social, and potentially violent youths in a big city, and NYC certainly hasn't seen any in the past.

Really, did you just arrive here from one of those flyover states?

longacre

I've lived here my whole life, but thanks for asking.

Of course there are disaffected kids here, but for whatever reason, the number of nutjob teens who launch planned attacks like this one, or like Columbine, is close to nil.

Maybe it's because here they have the option growing up to become public school teachers or police officers.

lemon

airplane avatar = duh

meechybee

Told you it was those punks from the Dalton School.

Rocknrope

His name is Robert Paulson.

schizofriendly

You read tea leaves? Palms?

Might be a swell way to surf the economy...

ides_of_march

A crude bomb on the UES? The local snobs must be mortified. They deserve at least a more refined explosive device. What will the neighbors think?