What we know about Austin bombing suspect Mark Conditt
AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) – The suspected Austin serial bomber died following a confrontation with police Wednesday, March 21.
Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, allegedly detonated a bomb in his vehicle as SWAT officers closed in, approaching the car in a ditch off Interstate 35 near Old Settlers Boulevard. One of the officers was thrown back and had minor injuries, while another one fired at Conditt.
Records show Conditt’s name on a home in Travis County near Pflugerville that he and his father may have bought in February 2017. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed any roommates would help inform the investigation into the suspect’s comings and goings.
Conditt does not have any criminal records in Central Texas. Abbott confirmed the suspect was unemployed and had not been in the military.
Police say they believe Conditt is responsible for the series of bombings that have taken place in Austin and at a FedEx facility in Schertz, Texas, since March 2. Two people have died and five were injured in the blasts.
As a student, Conditt kept a blog as part of a class assignment. In posts from 2012, he argued against gay marriage, in favor of the death penalty and against releasing terrorists from Guantanamo Bay.
Conditt describes himself on his blog saying:
My name is Mark Conditt. I enjoy cycling, parkour, tennis, reading, and listening to music. I am not that politically inclined. I view myself as a conservative, but I don’t think I have enough information to defend my stance as well as it should be defended. The reasons I am taking this class is because I want to understand the US government, and I hope that it will help me clarify my stance, and then defend it.