Austin Bomber's 'Biggest Mistake Was Going Through FedEx'

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX ― A man in his 30s was rushed to the hospital with potentially serious injuries after an incendiary device occurred at a South Austin Goodwill store Tuesday evening, emergency officials said.

The incident occurred at 9801 Brodie Lane, according to fire officials. Austin-Travis County EMS medics said via Twitter the man's injuries are not expected to be life-threatening. A spokesperson for St. David's South Austin Medical Center told Patch just past 9 a.m. that the man injured in Tuesday evening's blast was treated and released.

At about 9:45 p.m., police staged a briefing to discuss the incident that occurred Monday evening at the Goodwill store in South Austin along the 9800 block of Brodie Lane. Assistant chief of police Ely Reyes said police were called to the scene of the store at about 7 p.m. but it was ultimately determined the incident was unrelated to the serial bombings that have terrorized the city's residents.

Austin police also stressed this was no explosion:

Reyes said the incident centered on a box containing artillery simulators that someone had dropped off, purportedly as a donation of goods. As an employee at the Goodwill store sorted through the contents to dispose of the items, one of them ignited and injured the store worker. The victim has since been treated and released in good condition, Reyes confirmed.

"A lot of times these military-type mementos are found by family members and do not know how to dispose of these devices," Reyes said. While it's unknown who left the box, "We have no reason to believe this is an attempt at at copycat," Reyes told reporters gathered at the briefing.

"After our investigation on scene, we did determine this was not an explosive device," Reyes said. "This incident is not related to any of the other incidents that have been going around in the Austin area recently."

Still, Reyes said he was gratified at the robust response to the scene as federal law enforcement officials rushed to the scene to join local police under the assumption it involved another explosive device.

"If you see something, say something," Reyes reminded the public. "We are in this together as a community. We want all of these incident resolved, and we want to solve them quickly."

The reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever is behind this series of bombings has grown to $115,000. Those with information are highly urged to call (512) 472-8477 or download the “P3 Tips” smartphone app to leave tips to police. Those leaving information can remain anonymous.

In a related front, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Austin who's chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, told the Associated Press that investigators have obtained surveillance video from the Shertz ground facility where a parcel exploded Monday morning.

That video footage, McCaul told the AP, "could possibly" show the serial bomber. Moreover, McCaul said more potential bomb evidence gathered near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport could also be key to capturing the bomber. Ultimately, it could be that the serial bomber's "biggest mistake was going through FedEx," the congressman said.

Since the bombings began March 2, two people have died and another five injured.

The map below shows the locations of detonations thus far attributed on the serial bomber:

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Fourth Explosive Package Detonates In Austin, Two Men Injured

Reward For Suspect In Austin Home Bombings Grows To $115K

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Amid SXSW Revelry, 3 House Bombings Put Austin On Edge

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From earlier:

AUSTIN, TX ― A package bound for Austin exploded at a FedEx ground facility just outside San Antonio early Tuesday ― the fifth time a package has exploded in the area in what police now are calling the work of a serial bomber ― in an incident markedly different from previous bombings.

Meanwhile, since morning virtual pandemonium had struck Austin with multiple reports of police responding to suspicious package calls. A few hours after the Schertz detonation, Austin police responded to a suspicious package call at another FedEx package in South Austin. And after that, reports emerged that the Whole Foods store in the southwestern portion of the city ― in near proximity to Sunday's detonation of a trip-wired package ― had been evacuated after police got calls of another suspicious package there.

Police in Schertz, Texas, confirmed a package detonated at a FedEx facility there. Reportedly, the package was addressed to an Austin recipient, although the name was not released.

"Early this morning, Schertz police responded to the Fedex facility in the 9900 block of Doerr Lane for a report of an explosion," police said. "Further investigation revealed the explosion came from a package in the sorting area of the facility. One person was treated and released at the scene. We are currently working closely with several local and other governmental agencies. We will keep everyone updated as we gather more information."

Later on Tuesday morning, Austin Fire Department officials said via Twitter they were assisting police in assessing the threat level of a second package at another FedEx facility near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Southeast Austin. The facility there is located at McKinney Falls Parkway. Also via Twitter, a woman claiming to work at the Austin FedEx facility said the facility had been evacuated and workers sent home for the day.

Late Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett told the Austin American-Statesman the package reportedly found at the McKinney Falls Parkway FedEx office was a bomb that failed to detonate, adding that it came from the same sender as the package that exploded in Schertz. "They're trying to figure out how to open the package without destroying it," Doggett told the newspaper.

For their part, FBI and other police officials aren't talking. Patch reached out to Doggett's office to independently confirm the report, and will update if he or his office responds.

Police officer Destiny Winston confirmed local police were called to the FedEx location on McKinney Falls Parkway at 6:19 a.m. upon receiving reports of a suspicious package. After locating the package, a bomb squad was dispatched as a precautionary measure. But Winston demurred in providing details, saying only that given the ongoing nature of the investigation she wouldn't be able to provide further details.

"Our officers are on scene," Winston said. "They did locate a suspicious package. Due to this, they called our bomb squad for assistance. They are investigating this incident. Due to the nature of this incident and past events, we have all of them on scene as a precautionary measure to ensure the community is safe."

Then, multiple people tweeted that the Whole Foods store in Southwest Austin off MoPac had been evacuated amid reports of a suspicious package there. One Twitter user said the targeted area of the investigation there centers on an Amazon locker at the site. The store in question is the Arbor Trails shopping center at 4301 W. William Cannon.

"Whole Foods in southwest Austin has been evacuated due to suspicious package that was dropped off," a woman wrote. "Amazon lockers just inside the front entrance, so the front of the building has been completely blocked off in a 50ft radius. Only a few miles from Sunday night bombing location."

Another person shared a similar tale: "My wife was at Whole Foods in southwest Austin off MoPac just now and they just evacuated everyone in store due to suspicious package being delivered there."

In the end, it turned out to be nothing serious. An unattended suitcase had raised alarms ― yet another innocuous object suddenly taking on menacing form in light of the fear now gripping this community. Police subsequently verified the benign nature of the object via Twitter:

Austin Police Department Interim Chief Brian Manley issued a statement about the bombing in Schertz: "The Austin Police Department is aware of the incident that has occurred in Schertz, Texas, and is working closely on the investigation with our federal partners, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. I want to continue to remind our community to pay close attention to any suspicious device whether it be a package, a bag, a backpack or anything that looks out of place, do not approach it. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Also remember do not move, touch or open unexpected/suspicious packages."

According to Schertz police, the package detonated around 12:25 a.m. while it traveled on a conveyor belt in the Schertz facility on Doerr Lane, where about 75 employees were working at the time. The Schertz police chief later corrected earlier reports of a serious injury resulting from the blast, saying a female employee merely complained of ringing in the ears after the package detonated while on an automated conveyor belt.

Sunset Valley police have since told media outlets they believe the package that exploded at the Schertz sorting facility may have originated from their local FedEx Office store on Brodie Lane in Austin. The store is in the midst of the popular Sunset Valley shopping center, portions of which have now been cordoned off with police tape.

This marks the fifth time a parcel package has exploded in a series of bombings afflicting the Austin region since March 2, claiming two lives and injuring four. However, it's the first time a package has detonated outside of Austin ― which has emerged as ground zero in the yet-unsolved bombing spree.

It's also the first time a package from an official parcel processor has exploded. Up until Tuesday, Manley and other law enforcement agencies had warned people of suspicious-looking packages arriving at their homes that were seemingly not sent through traditional methods. Multiple law enforcement agencies also issued a graphic depicting a package with red flags to look for in flagging such deliveries as suspicious ― no return address, too much postage, misspellings and the like.

The latest bombing in Shertz throws a lethal wrench in the works, as now it is no longer suspicious-looking packages for which residents already on edge need to be on guard. The previous bombing immediately before the one in Schertz had already raised concerns given its trip-wire trigger device and its installation on a street rather than doorsteps or porches as the previous three packages that detonated only after being handled by their recipients.

This latest incident involving a package mailed in traditional methods is sure to rise the collective tension even further. Schertz, a town of about 40,000 residents, is located some 22 miles northeast of San Antonio and about 80 miles south of Austin.

Manley is expected to stage a press briefing later this morning, and Patch will bring you those details afterwards.

The map below illustrates the wide swath of area where bombings have now been reported, including Tuesday morning's blast.

Related story: Austin Police Chief Makes It Official: Serial Bomber On The Loose