Another one of these ‘not on the radar’, ‘very personable’, ‘quite out of character’, ‘no known motive’.
NASHVILLE EXPLOSION: Anthony Warner died in explosion, was ‘bomber,’ authorities say.
Anthony Q. Warner, 63, has been identified as the “bomber” in the Christmas day explosion in Nashville by U.S. Attorney Don Cochran.
Cochran announced the update to the investigation in a Sunday afternoon news conference.
“Anthony Warner is the bomber. He was present when the bomb went off, and he perished in the bombing,” Cochran said.
DNA found at the scene was matched to samples taken at another location searched by investigators, TBI Director David Rausch said Sunday. The TBI was involved in testing the evidence.
Because they had identified a suspect, investigators said they were able to match samples to a potential family member quickly.
At this time, officials said there is no indication that anyone outside of Warner was involved in the explosion. Authorities reviewed hours of surveillance footage and they say they only saw Warner.
A motive in the bombing has not been released and is still under investigation according to FBI Special Agent for Public Affairs Doug Korneski.
The types of explosives used in the bombing were still under investigation, authorities said. The FBI said Warner wasn’t on the radar of authorities before Friday’s explosion and declined to deem the explosion an act of terrorism.
Tips from the public helped authorities initially identify Warner as a suspect. The Tennessee Highway Patrol discovered a vehicle part with the VIN that linked the RV to him.
Authorities are asking people who knew Warner to contact them so they can understand Warner’s motive.
“These answers won’t come quickly and will still require a lot of our team’s effort,” Korneski said. “None of those answers will ever be enough for those who have been affected by this event. We still have work to do.”
A curfew had been set to expire on Sunday afternoon but was extended until noon Monday for a smaller area than initially set.
The curfew zone is bounded by James Robertson Parkway, Fourth Avenue North, Broadway and the Cumberland River.
“I cannot truly describe all the hard work that has gone into this investigation since Friday’s explosion,” Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said Sunday. “Nashville is considered safe.”
Investigation ongoing
FBI agents searched a home in Antioch and visited a real estate office in Nashville in connection to the bombing. An FBI spokesman confirmed Warner lived at the home federal agents searched Saturday afternoon.
FBI Special Agent Jason Pack told The Tennessean agents visited Fridrich & Clark Realty’s Green Hills office Saturday evening as well — following up on leads in the case.
Owner Steve Fridrich said the company reported to the FBI that Warner had previously worked for the company. He confirmed speaking with agents Saturday.
“We are one of the nearly 500 people who so far have contacted them with tips,” he said.
Fridrich said Warner was hired four or five years ago as a contract laborer for computer consulting for the company. Then this month, Warner informed the company in an email that he’d no longer be working for them, Fridrich said.
No reason was given.
“He seemed very personable to us – this is quite out of character I think,” he said.
“He didn’t have a computer or office here. If a computer went down he would fix it or if we got a new one in he’d put it together for us,” Fridrich said. “He’d come by once a month to the office to do work. But there were also months we went without seeing him. He also worked for other companies doing computer work.”
Davidson County property records show his family has also lived in Nashville for decades.