Nashville Bomber Relatively Unknown to Police

Nashville Bomber Relatively Unknown to Police

Anthony Warner lived a pretty squeaky clean life, until Christmas that is. For whatever reason, Warner drove an RV from his residence to downtown Nashville, played a message over a loudspeaker warning people to vacate the area then exploded the vehicle.

Other than Warner, no one was killed in the massive explosion, and to date, no one really knows why he exploded the vehicle. There have been some odd manifestations from ongoing investigations, such as the possibility of multiple conspiracy theories that Warner believed that shape-shifting reptiles take on a human form to take over society. He also had discussed taking trips to hunt aliens, and that he believed in some sort of 5G technology conspiracy theory.

Warner’s girlfriend, Pamela Perry, warned law enforcement in August 2019 that he had been making bombs in his RV. Police responded but were not able to connect with him, and were not able to see inside the RV. The only brush with the law was a 1970s marijuana-related arrest. While at the residence in August 2019, officer saw no evidence of a crime and had no authority to enter his home or fenced property where the RV was stored.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were not aware of Warner, and apparently any investigation or property search would not have been allowed because there was no probably cause for a search warrant. Federal agents continue to sort through Warner’s writings and manifestos, as well as his digital footprint. What is known through Warner’s attorney Raymond Throckmorton that he frequently talked about military and bomb making, and that Warner is capable of making a bomb. While Throckmorton was listed as a legal advisor, he said it had been several years ago when he represented his client, and even then it was a civil case.

The bombing happened on Christmas morning well before the downtown streets were busy, even for a Christmas day. Police that happened to be in the area had responded to shots being fired, and heard the announcement that residents should vacate the area because of a potential explosive. Police had no way of knowing the veracity of the announcement but began to knock on doors to clear the area of residents. The recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes was given, followed by a recorded of Petula Clark’s 1964 vocal “Downtown.” Dozens of buildings were damaged and several people were injured.

Investigators have not uncovered a motive.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • 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.