Austin police haven’t said whether explosion that injured 2 men is connected to package bombs – By Claire Z. Cardona & Jackie Wang (dallasnews.com) / March 19 2018
Two men were wounded in an explosion Sunday night in an Austin neighborhood, but police haven’t said whether the blast is connected to the recent string of deadly package bombings in the city.
Two men in their 20s were wounded about 8:30 p.m. in the 4800 block of Dawn Song Drive, southwest of downtown Austin.
The injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, Austin-Travis County EMS said.
Interim Police Chief Brian Manley said that an “obvious” explosion had taken place, but he did not give further details.
He warned residents to remain vigilant about packages and objects.
“Not only do not touch any packages or anything that looks like a package, do not even go near it at this time, because given the darkness we have not had an opportunity to really look at this blast site to determine what has happened,” Manley said.
Residents within a half-mile radius of Dawn Song Drive and Republic of Texas Boulevard in the Travis Country neighborhood were asked to remain in their homes and wait for instructions.
Manley said it would likely be daylight before officials could declare the area safe.
Late Sunday, law enforcement officials were sweeping the community and investigating a backpack that had been found.
Jerry Schmidt, president of the Woods at Travis Country homeowner’s association, said he did not hear Sunday’s explosion, but that a relative with diminished hearing did.
“It concerns me because I want to keep my neighborhood safe. I can’t believe this is going on here,” Schmidt said.
Shonda Mace, who lives on nearby Canyonwood Drive, heard the sirens but not the explosion.
“Travis Country is a safe neighborhood. Things like this don’t happen here and it’s really terrifying,” she said. “It just doesn’t happen here. It’s in a state of shock.”
Chief Brian Manley giving a briefing on the situation in southwest Austin. https://t.co/FnagxPt61m
— Jackie Wang (@jcqlnwng) March 19, 2018
In the three bombings earlier this month, which killed two people and injured two others, a box or package was left on or near the front porch of the victims’ home, according to law enforcement.
On March 2, Anthony Stephan House, 39, was killed at his home in the 1100 block of Haverford Drive.
Ten days later, 17-year-old Draylen Mason was killed and his 41-year-old mother was injured when she opened a package left on the front porch of her home in the 4800 block of Oldfort Hill Drive.
Later that morning, a 75-year-old woman was injured when she handled a package near her home in the 6700 block of Galindo Street.
The names of the two injured women have not been released. Authorities think the three incidents are related.
A $115,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.
The total reward amount for information leading to the arrest & conviction of person/s responsible for #packagebombmurders is 115k. Please contact @Austin_Police at (512) 472-tips (8477) with any details. We need your help! https://t.co/Y2e5SJQMBY
— Brian Manley (@Chief_Manley) March 18, 2018
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2018/03/18/2-injured-blast-austin
