Austin Bomber Deceased After Police Tracked Him Down

Austin Bomber Deceased After Police Tracked Him Down

The suspect in the Austin bombings detonated a bomb in his car as officers closed in.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Mar 21, 2018

The suspect in the Austin Bombings is now deceased, according to police, after authorities tracked him to a hotel in Round Rock, Texas, just outside the city of Austin.

Around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, police followed the suspect, identified as a 24-year-old white male, on Interstate-35 and as they closed in on him, the suspect to detonated a bomb in his vehicle killing himself and knocking an officer back. On officer fired his gun and due to standard policies was placed on administrative leave. No one but the suspect was wounded in the explosion.

While police believe the suspect has been neutralized, they are still warning residents in Austin to be vigilant and alert. Austin PD said they do not have any information on where the suspect has been in the last 24 hours and it is likely he left some devices behind. Police were also careful not to confirm if the suspect worked alone or had help.

"As a community, we're just really relieved and just incredibly thankful for this army of law enforcement that has been in our community for the last week or so," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said on "Today."

The capitol city has been on edge for three weeks as several package explosions plagued residents, the latest on Sunday night when two people were injured after riding their bikes past a suspicious package on the side of the road. Police warned residents that the devices were becoming more sophisticated and to call 911 if they saw a box, bag, carton or other storing equipment that seemed suspicious.

Scores of law enforcement helped with the case in Austin as well as in the surrounding areas. The FBI sent 350 special agents to Austin as well as extra bomb squads. Personnel with the Bureau of Alcohol,  Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were deployed to Austin to help, too.

Photo by the Austin Statesman.

 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3