AUSTIN, Texas — During a press conference at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Austin Police Department interim Chief Brian Manley said deceased Austin bombing suspect Mark Anthony Conditt made a recording tantamount to a confession.
Manley said the 25-minute recording, which investigators believe was produced between 9 and 11 p.m. Tuesday night, was recovered from a cellphone at the scene of the explosion that may have claimed Conditt’s life.
Manley said the recording details the differences between the six bombs that detonated in Austin as well the seventh device that detonated as police officers approached Conditt’s vehicle.
Manley said the recording doesn’t mention terrorism or hate but captured the “outcry of a challenged man.”
Manley further said the recording, which is considered a key piece of evidence, made it clear that Conditt knew investigators were closing in on him. Investigators still don't know why or how his victims were chosen.
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Manley stated that it’s not yet known if the explosion killed Conditt or if it was a result of gunfire from officers. He did say, however, that the explosion was tremendous and that Conditt suffered significant injuries from the blast.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also spoke during Wednesday evening’s press conference and said investigators solved one of the most heinous crimes in the history of Austin and that he has never seen a better job done by our police chief and force.
“Today we proudly Back the Blue,” Abbott said.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler spoke of the climate of fear the bomber created in Texas’ capital city.
“This has been an anxious time for our community. Our community has gotten a little afraid here,” Adler said.
Adler also said that Austinites should use the incident as a teaching tool.
“As a community we do not know our neighbors as well as we should or as we used to. Introduce yourselves to your neighbors,” he said.
Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore briefly detailed plans if Conditt had been taken alive.
“(We were) planning a capital murder case, seeking the death penalty,” Moore said. “This can never be a happy ending, but it’s a damn good one for the people.”
Christopher Combs, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division, applauded the bravery of the members of the Austin Police Department.
“This is what we do. There would have been more devices and innocent civilians killed,” Combs said. “Austin police ran towards a vehicle that had an explosive device in it. We will be here until this is over.”
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