Benefit Set For Family Of First Victim In Austin Serial Bombings

AUSTIN, TX — A neighbor of the first victim of the serial bombings that terrorized the city in March is staging a benefit concert on Sunday to benefit his family.

According to a Facebook event page, the nonprofit Restpt, which disributes harm reduction supplies at music festivals, will participate in the effort along with The Hippie House, a local art group.The benefit, called “Music, Love & Crawfish,” is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday at the Empire Control Room, 606 E. 7th St. The benefit will help the survivors of Anthony Stephan House, 39, who was the first to die after a a bombs sent as a benign-looking parcel package exploded as he opened it on March 12.

The concert will feature two stages with live music, crawfish paella, art installations, craft vendors and a silent auction, according to the social media post. Tickets are $5 at the door, and all proceeds will benefit the House family, chiefly the 8-year-old daughter he left behind who witnessed the aftermath of the lethal parcel bomb sent by a man who later died by his own hand as police closed in.

GoFundMe faccounts were set up for the daughter as word on the tragedy spread, including one set up for her education. Sunday's event has a simpler aim to finance a summer vacation for House's widow and daughter. One GoFundMe account exceeded its $60,000 goal, raising nearly $75,000.

In a lengthy Facebook post, the neighbor, Sean Philips, describes in minute detail the horror resulting from the blast that killed House. He describes his lingering anger at the police response, media coverage and other aspects of the case. According to the post, Philips ran to assist House as he lay bleeding from the blast, and heard his neighbor's little girl screaming in horror and disbelief.

Anger over the police handling of the incident lingers some two months after the tragedy. Police initially were convinced the bombing was a retaliation for a drug bust by law enforcement that took place just three doors down, voicing that theory before the facts came out. A companion theory, also voiced by police, was that the bombing was self-inflicted as a suicide tactic.

Both theories ultimately proved erroneous, and interim police chief Brian Manley was compelled to issue a public apology after mounting criticism — particularly from members of the African American community — emerged for their public airing. Ultimately, House was deemed an innocent victim of a seemingly random attack that also killed a 17-year-old budding musician. The din of criticism grew further given that House was African American, giving rise to questions from some in the public if police have a different perception of black people than they do other population segments.

The matter came up again during the final of two community forums staged on Thursday as Manley makes his case to become the permanent police chief after being in an interim role now for some 18 months. And again, Manley said the same theory would have been floated if the resident had been Anglo given the implausible coincidence of a police drug bust that had occurred just days before and in close proximity. The chief's post has been without a permanent chief since the departure of longtime police chief Art Acevedo, who accepted the same position in Houston.

>>> Photo of Anthony Stephan House via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner