In Grim Postscript, Austin Serial Bomber's Death Ruled Suicide

ROUND ROCK, TX — In a grim post-script to the serial bombings that terrorized Austin this month, the cause of death of the man believed to have perpetrated the entire terror campaign has been ruled a suicide.

In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Dain Johnson said Mark Anthony Conditt died of his own hand after detonating one of the same type of bombs used in the random detonations as police closed in on him in Round Rock last Wednesday morning.

Given Johnson's description of the manner of death, Conditt died of the same injuries that claimed the lives of two of his victims who were killed after handling packages left on their doorsteps: "The cause of death for Mark Anthony Conditt is multiple penetrating shrapnel injuries, and at this point, the death is ruled as suicide," the judge's two-sentence public statement reads.

But he added the autopsy report was not the final version. In a press briefing following Conditt's death, Interim Police Chief Brian Manley confirmed one of his officers shot at Conditt during the encounter that led to the final bombing inside the suspect's vehicle.

Johnson makes no mention of a bullet wound found on Conditt's body during the autopsy examination: "The final autopsy report is not completed and will not be made public until the criminal investigation has concluded.”

In related news, Austin-based Rep. Michael McCaul told media outlets Monday morning that one of the suspected bombers's roommates is still considered a person of interest by police. "It's hard to believe a roommate not having some knowledge of that," McCaul told Spectrum News Austin. "Perhaps he didn't. If he did have knowledge of it, he had a duty to report that to law enforcement and he also, if he had knowledge and did nothing he's complicit to a conspiracy."

The congressman said that if the roommate knew of Conditt's activities, he had a duty to report that to police and could potentially be complicit in the bombing campaign. He told Spectrum News he'd like to study the use of the term "domestic terror" not just as a legal definition but as a federal charge. The violent episode has given rise to discussion as to why some law enforcement officials hesitate to label Conditt's alleged actions as domestic terror, which is a legal term reserved to refer to perpetrators acting as part of an broader and more organized terror network.

McCaul told Fox News law enforcement officials are focused on determining whether the roommate knew Conditt was making weapons at the home in Pflugerville, Texas — a city just northeast of Austin — the two shared. Police found weapons and bomb-making equipment at the home after Conditt was killed.

Amid the chaotic confusion, hearsay and non-vetted information in the course of three weeks that marked the bombing period that killed two and injured others, McCaul was a voice of lucidity. The night before Conditt was stopped by police — prompting his self-inflicted death as they closed in on him — McCaul suggested the suspected bomber's use of Federal Express in attempts to deliver more of his lethal packages would spell his demise.

McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, told the Associated Press the serial bomber's "biggest mistake was going through FedEx," meaning it would be eminently easier for law enforcement to track him via store video surveillance cameras and by cross-referencing purchases made for deliveries with other transactions possibly related to his bombing campaign.

Indeed, mere hours after McCaul made that prediction, Conditt was being pursued by police in Round Rock where he would blow himself up by one of the nefarious tools of his trade after driving his car into a ditch to elude capture.

Spectrum News Austin was scheduled to air the full interview with McCaul on their current affairs program "Capital Tonight" on Monday at 7 p.m. on channels 1, 8 or 200 in Austin, 14, 200 in San Antonio.

The map below shows the six sites in Austin and surrounding areas where packages were detonated, including the Round Rock site where Conditt used one of the packages to end his life.

Related stories:

Austin Bombing Suspect Left Video Confession

Pflugerville Vigil For Austin Serial Bomb Victims Scheduled

Austin News Station Hammered For Serial Bombing Coverage

Austin Bombings: How You Can Help Victims' Families

I-35, Austin Serial Bomber's Last Stand, Now Huge Crime Scene

Pflugerville Streets Closed Amid Suspicious Package Report

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

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

Fourth Explosive Package Detonates In Austin, Two Men Injured

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

Austin Police Update Explosive Packages Probe, ID Dead Teen

Amid SXSW Revelry, 3 House Bombings Put Austin On Edge

Man Who Died In North Austin Explosion Identified

East Austin Home Explosion Kills Teen, Seriously Injures Woman

2nd Package Explosion Monday Injures Woman In South Austin Home

East Austin Home Explosion Kills Teen, Seriously Injures Woman

Man Dies In North Austin Home Explosion

>>> Image via Shutterstock