Here’s what we know about the violent package explosions that have happened across Austin.
Six explosion devices have rattled Austin since the beginning of the month. Here’s a timeline of events.
Authorities responded to an incendiary device at a Goodwill store, an unexploded bomb at a FedEx center, and an explosion at another FedEx center.
8:10 p.m.: Goodwill announced it will close all of its stores out of an abundance of caution.
Senior Leadership and authorities are investigating a possible explosion at a south GW store. It is our understanding that a Team Member is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. In an abundance of caution for our Team and customers, all Goodwill Stores will be closed.
7:02 p.m.: A explosion was reported Tuesday at a southwest Austin Goodwill on Brodie Lane. ATCEMS said a man in his 30s was injured, but his injuries are not expected to be life threatening. A Goodwill spokesperson said the victim was an employee who was looking through donations. Austin police said this explosion was not a package bomb, but was instead an incendiary device. They said it does not initially appear to be related to the other explosions.
#UPDATE: There was no package explosion in the 9800 block of Brodie Ln. Items inside package was not a bomb, rather an incendiary device. At this time, we have no reason to believe this incident is related to previous package bombs. #Breaking #packagebombmurders
6:19 a.m.: Police were called to a FedEx facility in Southeast Austin near the airport because of a suspicious package, and U. S. Rep Lloyd Doggett confimed to KVUE’s media partners at the Austin-American Statesman that it was a bomb. Authorities say it was connected to the previous explosions.
12:25 a.m.: A package exploded at a FedEx facility in Shertz. Officials say it was connected to the previous explosions. A woman reported ringing in her ears from the blast, but she was not injured.
Sunset Valley Police confirmed to KVUE’s Jenni Lee that the package was sent from a FedEx Location on Brodie Lane to the Schertz FedEx, and Austin Interim Police Chief Brian Manley confirms that the package was intended to return back to Austin.
Chief Manley said the specific components of the devices makes him believe that all the incidents are related.
Austin police said they responded to more than 420 suspicious calls between the hours of 8 a.m. Monday and 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, bringing the total number of calls since 8 a.m. March 12 to 1,257.
Monday morning, Austin Interim Police Chief said the fourth explosion in Austin that possibly involved a tripwire suggested that the suspect(s) behind the violent attacks is more sophisticated than officials originally thought.
Chief Manley called the suspect a serial bomber, adding that they have seen similarities in the device that exploded Sunday and the other previous explosions. Police updated their warning to the Austin community to not only be on alert for suspicious packages but also bags, suitcases, and boxes that look out of place.
The Travis Country neighborhood was asked to stay indoors until 10 a.m. while officials investigated the neighborhood for other suspicious devices.
Police reported the number of calls regarding suspicious packages had grown to 849.
Early Sunday, police announced they were offering an additional $50,000 for more information leading to the arrest of a suspect or suspects.
Hours after the announcement, Austin police confirmed a fourth explosion happened in Southwest Austin that they believe could be connected to the previous three explosions. Two white men in their 20s were injured in the blast but are expected to be OK. Police said they believe that a tripwire was used to trigger the explosion: a significant difference from the other reported cases, Interim Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said.
Police said more than 500 federal agents are assisting in the investigation, 435 leads have been called in, 236 individuals have been interviewed, and 735 suspicious package calls have been responded to.
At a press briefing Tuesday, police identified the 17-year-old victim as Draylen Mason and added that his mother, who was also injured, is recovering.
A family member confirmed the identity of the 75-year-old victim as Esperanza «Hope» Herrera. Police said this victim remains in critical condition.
Police announced that they would be offering a $50,000 reward for more information leading to the arrest of a suspect. That’s in addition to the $15,000 reward being offered by Gov. Abott’s office.
The APD also provided more information on the investigation of the first explosion on March 2, saying the department operated a major drug raid at a home that looked similar to where the explosion occurred. They said they initially believed this appeared to be an isolated incident due to the resemblance of the home involved in the drug raid and the home where the explosion happened.
They are currently investigating the three explosions as if they are all related.
Just before 6:45 a.m. at a single-family home in the 4800 block of Oldfort Hill Drive near 51st Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, an explosion was reported. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found that the explosion happened in the kitchen of the home. A 17-year-old boy died from his injuries in the blast. A woman in her 40s was taken to a hospital. She is expected to be okay. No one else was injured in the blast.
Police later said they believe the two incidents are related. Manley said a motive in the two incidents remains unclear, but the victim in the first and second explosion are African American and they cannot rule out that the incidents were hate crimes.
The United States Postal Service told police that they reviewed their records, and they can confirm that the package did not come through the postal service.
‘This is somebody that has experience with bombs,’ expert says about Austin explosions
Austin police are issuing a warning to people who see packages outside of their home. Manley said in both cases, the suspect delivered the packages during the nighttime, and the victims found them in the morning on their doorstep.
Just before noon, another package explosion was reported in the Montopolis neighborhood in the 6700 block of Galindo Street near Riverside Drive and Montopolis Drive. A 75-year-old Hispanic woman was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. A woman in her 80s was evaluated at the scene but was not taken to a hospital.
Manley said it is not believed that this third package was left by an official delivery service, and they currently do not have any suspect or vehicle descriptions at this time.
