Amid SXSW Revelry, 3 House Bombings Put Austin On Edge (Updated)

AUSTIN, TX — After three explosions of packages delivered to homes so far this month — two on Monday alone, leaving a teenager dead — police are asking residents not to open any boxes left on their porch as the bombings are likely related.

On Monday, two blasts occurred in close succession after people retrieved package delivered to their homes. The first incident occurred just before 8 a.m. in East Austin along the 4800 block of Oldfort Hill Drive followed by a similar incident less than four hours later in South Austin on Galindo Street just before noon. The former left a 17-year-old male victim dead and a woman in her 40s injured while the latter injured a 75-year-old Hispanic woman now hospitalized in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

The first such blast that occurred March 2 in North Austin left a man dead, and is now being investigated as a homicide. Police later identified the victim as 39-year-old Anthony Stephan House. That first blast along the 1100 block of Haverford Drive occurred in similar fashion as the two others on Monday.

Related stories:

Man Dies In North Austin Home Explosion

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East Austin Home Explosion Kills Teen, Seriously Injures Woman

2nd Package Explosion Monday Injures Woman In South Austin Home

Police have neither a suspect, nor motive. But one thing appears clear: These are not isolated incidents as police originally believed, but are more than likely related. At an afternoon press briefing after the Galindo Street case, Police Chief Brian Manley implored anyone with information on the package explosions to notify police immediately. And, needless to say, the chief urged residents not to open any suspicious or unexpected packages left on their door.

Manley said the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are now involved in the investigation. Joining the chief in his press briefing were the city's mayor, city manager, district attorney and representatives with the FBI, ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), the U.S. Postal Service and other law enforcement agencies.

"This, again, is the third in what we believe are related incidents that have occurred over the past ten days," Manley said at the afternoon press briefing in reaction to the Galindo Street incident — the second suspicious package that detonated on Monday alone. Manley said the package detonated when the elderly victim picked it up upon retrieving it. "We want the community to be aware of what is going on. Based on evidence that we have at this scene, as well as the other two scenes where we've had these explosions, this evidence makes us believe that these three incidents are related," Manley said.

The chief added that neither a suspect or motive have been identified: "We don't have a specific victimology or ideology that we've identified, so assigning a motive to this at this point [it's] not possible to do that based on the stage that we're at in the investigation."

He urged anyone with information to call police: "We're imploring the community if you know anything about these attacks it is imperative that you come forward and let us know. We are having innocent people getting hurt across the community, and it is imperative that we come together as a community and solve this."

But the chief vowed the case would ultimately be solved with the person or persons responsible will be brought to justice: "We are putting tog a tasks force that will work jointly until we conclude this investigation and we arrest the person or persons responsible, and we will leave no stone unturned because we are not going to allow this to go on in our city. That being said, this will be a lengthy investigation."

Officials made a point to note that the violent incident weren't SXSW-related or likely timed intentionally during the run of the festival. SXSW officials expressed condolences while urging revelers to be cautious.

At this time @Austin_Police investigators don’t believe that the recent explosions are connected to #SXSW. Visitors and residents, enjoy your week but stay vigilant. If you see something, say something by calling 9-1-1

— Austin HSEM (@AustinHSEM) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/AustinHSEM... 12, 2018

At this time @Austin_Police investigators don’t believe that the recent explosions are connected to #SXSW. Visitors and residents, enjoy your week but stay vigilant. If you see something, say something by calling 9-1-1

— Austin Texas (@austintexasgov) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/austintexa... 12, 2018

After addressing the press scrum on the latest details, Manley issued a message to residents and visitors alike in urging vigilance:

The blasts come amid two weeks of revelry in Austin as the city hosts the annual South By Southwest (SXSW) arts and entertainment festival — a gigantic affair drawing tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world. But amid the celebration, a panic now has set in among anxious residents wondering when and if the next home explosion might occur.

Manley noted the package explosions have occurred at residences, but he urged even visitors at downtown venues and other SXSW-related spots to also be vigilant. "It's important for those that are here in Austin, that are here for the spring festival, to be aware of what's going on. Enjoy yourself, have a good time — there's no reason to believe that you are at any greater risk— other than be aware and look for things that are suspicious. We've been putting the message out repeatedly 'If you see something, say something.' If you see something that looks out of place, if you see something that's suspicious, it is important that you call us.

Ahead of SXSW, the Austin Police Department urged residents to download free apps designed not only to navigate congested streets but to report suspicious activity and send tips to police. Users can send us tips anonymously, use their GPS location, text, photos and have a secure two-way chat with officers should the situation arise. Additionally, APD sends out important messages and alerts to users via the app.

You can download the Austin PD mobile app in a couple of ways, either: Austin PD for iOS or Austin PD for Android.

Manley ended the formal part of his press briefing with advice for residents. "And for any residents that have these suspicious packages: Under no circumstance should you touch them, move them or handle them in any way but instead make that call and then if you can exit your residence or go to the back of that residence until that time that we can get there and deem that safe."

Manley isn't the only one warning residents. Police departments in other cities spread the word about the bombings, urging their own residents to exercise caution if receiving unexpected packages.

In Pflugerville, some 17 miles northeast of Austin, the police department issued a graphic on social media showing red flags to look for in receiving a package — no return address, excessive postage, misspelled words and the like.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who used to be the chief in Austin, staged his own press briefing to warn the citizenry there. "We live in a day and age where we all need to come together to keep our neighborhoods, city, state and ultimately our nation safe," Acevedo wrote on his Twitter page. "Vigilance and positive engagement with one another is more important than ever. If you see something suspicious please call 911."

In light of the 3 incidents in Austin, please be vigilant when receiving any package you weren’t expecting. If you receive a suspicious package call 911 and do not handle it. https://t.co/zrHlCGMYsP
— Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/ArtAcevedo... 12, 2018

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement on the package bombings while offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

"I want to assure all Texans, and especially those in Austin, that local, state and federal law enforcement officials are working diligently to find those responsible for these heinous crimes," Abbott said in a prepared statement. "As the investigation continues, the State of Texas will provide any resources necessary to ensure the safety of our citizens, and quickly bring those guilty to justice."

To be eligible for a cash reward of up to $15,000, tips must be submitted to Texas Crime Stoppers using one of the following methods:

• Call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Text the letters "DPS"- followed by your tip – to 274637 (CRIMES).
• Submit a web tip through the website.
• Submit a tip through the DPS Mobile App.

During his press briefing Monday afternoon, Manley was careful not to reveal any leads or specific evidence while the investigation is underway. But a relative of the man who died in the first package bombing in Austin on March 2 told the Washington Post of connections linking his family to the violence.

Freddie Dixon told the Post that the first victim, House, was his stepson. The younger man worked in construction, was married and had an eight-year-old daughter. Dixon said he also was good friends with the grandfather of the teen who died on Monday.

“This is a real mystery, and how all of this mystery comes together, I have no idea,” Dixon told the newspaper.

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