Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Nashville Blast Suspect Died In Explosion, Officials Say
NPR ^ | December 27, 2020 | Matthew S. Schwartz

Posted on 12/27/2020 2:59:07 PM PST by BenLurkin

The violent explosion that rocked downtown Nashville, Tenn., on Christmas morning is believed to be a suicide bombing by Anthony Q. Warner, 63, U.S. Attorney Don Cochran said Sunday.

Authorities continue to ask those who knew or encountered the suspect to contact the FBI. The agency is still investigating, but there is no indication that anyone else was involved, Cochran said.

Officials said DNA testing of human remains on the scene matched to Warner. They said no other threats were known against the city but wouldn't comment on possible motives for the bombing.

According to NPR member station WPLN, Warner had owned a home in the suburban Nashville community of Antioch that was searched on Saturday by federal officials.

The investigation into the bombing has brought hundreds of law enforcement personnel — including agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — into the Tennessee capital to comb through the wreckage and investigate more than 500 leads.

The Friday morning blast came from an RV parked outside an AT&T building. No fatalities were reported, but three people were hospitalized for their injuries and dozens of buildings were damaged.

The effects of the blast were still being felt more than 48 hours later. Some police and hospital communications systems are still out in some areas of Tennessee, as well as in neighboring states.

City officials on Sunday credited the city's police officers for their quick work to evacuate the area, averting potential tragedy.

"Their actions saved lives," Mayor John Cooper said. "They may consider what they did was just a regular part of their duties. But we in Nashville know it was extraordinary."

Speaking to reporters Sunday morning, police described the scene they encountered upon responding to a 911 call shortly before the bomb went off that reported shots fired in the area. Soon after officers arrived, a recorded female voice started sounding from the RV, warning it was going to explode. A countdown began.

"At that moment, it felt real," said officer James Wells, who has been with the force for less than two years. Wells said he noticed cameras attached to the RV.

"It felt like whoever was behind it was watching," he recalled. Wells said he looked around to make sure no one was secretly watching them. Mentally, he started preparing for a possible shootout.

"All of the cop lingo that you hear about — the spider senses, about the hair standing up on the back of your neck — all that went through my body," said Wells.

At one point, the RV started playing a recording of the song "Downtown" by Petula Clark. Then it switched back to the countdown, then back to the music. Some of the officers returned to their cars, blocking roads to set up a perimeter. A police sergeant ordered an evacuation, and officers started knocking on doors to get people out.

After knocking on doors, Wells said he went back to his car and pulled it back farther to get out of blast radius. He then got out of his car and started walking toward the RV. Suddenly, Wells said, he heard the voice of God telling him to turn around and check on Officer Amanda Topping, who was by herself on Broadway Street.

"It felt like I only took three steps," Wells said.

Suddenly, the music stopped.

"I just see orange," Wells recalled. "And then I hear a loud boom. And as I'm stumbling — 'cuz it rocked me that hard — I start stumbling, I just tell myself to stay on your feet, stay alive."

Meanwhile, Topping was walking toward Wells. Suddenly, an explosion pierced the calm.

"I just saw the biggest flames I've ever seen," Topping recalled. "I'll never forget the windows shattering after the blast all around me."

"I felt a push," said Officer Michael Sipos. "I was thrown into the trunk, a little bit. I turned around to see a very orange sky, and a lot of smoke." Officer Brenna Hosey said she was knocked to the ground.

Topping felt the wave of heat, she said, motioning to her face. She couldn't see Wells, who was close to the blast. She took off in a sprint, eventually finding Wells, who told her to take out her gun. The two of them grabbed each other and ducked into a doorway to prepare for whatever might happen next.

"It just felt like something out of a movie," Wells recalled. Another officer was yelling at him, asking him to do something — but he had temporary hearing loss from the blast. An ambulance wanted to take him to the hospital, but when Wells learned that three people were injured, he told the paramedics to check on the civilians first.

Wells, who said he's a spiritual person, credited his survival to the voice in his head that told him to walk in the opposite direction.

"That's what saved my life," Wells said. "That's what got me to see my kids and my wife on Christmas. 'Good to see you' has a completely different meaning to me now."

Wells said the experience will tie him to his fellow officers for the rest of their life. After the press conference was over, Wells and Hosey embraced. For several seconds, they stood in silence, simply holding each other.

NPR's John Burnett and Reese Oxner contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: anthonyquinnwarner
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-139 next last
To: BenLurkin

Well photos seem to show that he did not use his own RV.


41 posted on 12/27/2020 3:30:00 PM PST by Revel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

+1. The FBI lacks credibility at this point.


42 posted on 12/27/2020 3:31:22 PM PST by GenXteacher (You have chosen dishonor to avoid war; you shall have war also.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC
Because it's weird. A 63 year old guy rigs an RV for a huge explosion? If he had a beef against 5G or ATT then he must have known that this wasn't going to do much in the long run.

In his mind it sent a message.   Joel Coen — 'It's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.'

43 posted on 12/27/2020 3:31:39 PM PST by higgmeister ( In the Shadow of The Big Chicken )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: skr

It didn’t sound like a computer voice to me.


44 posted on 12/27/2020 3:31:58 PM PST by rickomatic ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: bagster

😂
“What are the sheep saying, Prestone?

I’m sure they’re waiting for CNN to tell them what the FBI’s findings are.


45 posted on 12/27/2020 3:34:35 PM PST by MNDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: vigilante2

They knew where he lived. Probably not hard to get samples.


46 posted on 12/27/2020 3:35:28 PM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

At one point, the RV started playing a recording of the song “Downtown” by Petula Clark. Then it switched back to the countdown, then back to the music.

...

Sick person, but with a sense of humor.


47 posted on 12/27/2020 3:37:46 PM PST by Moonman62 (http://www.freerepublic.com/~moonman62/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rickomatic

That’s what the article says...but then it means others are involved.


48 posted on 12/27/2020 3:38:16 PM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Roman_War_Criminal

Very wierd. My first guess was he had Aspergers (NOPE, I AM NOT PUTTING ALL PEOPLE WITH ASPERGERS DOWN), and he was perseverating on some things, this time the 5G thing. Now, seeing he was a computer/tech person and this is where I think it’s going. He didn’t want to kill anybody, I guess. Lonely, odd guy, is my take away. Don’t think this is a giant plot of any kind.


49 posted on 12/27/2020 3:39:52 PM PST by Pigsley (Ca)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Harpotoo

Yeah, Erie PA. I remember that. Never did catch the perps.


50 posted on 12/27/2020 3:40:02 PM PST by jimjohn (The 2nd American Civil War began shortly after 12:00 noon on January 20, 2017)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

When did he die?

Before or after the explosion ....

...asking for a concerned insurance agent.


51 posted on 12/27/2020 3:42:58 PM PST by ptsal (Vote R.E.D. >>>Remove Every Democrat ***)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DIRTYSECRET

He may have taken his own life, after setting off the timer.


52 posted on 12/27/2020 3:43:27 PM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets ("Women's intuition" gave us the Salem witch trials and Kavanaugh hearings. Change my mind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

How convenient


53 posted on 12/27/2020 3:47:39 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: higgmeister
There are a myriad of links in twitter that tell contradicting stories. For starters: Michelle Swing was a lt more familiar with Warner than we are being told. SHE transferred property to HIM in August of 2019.

Deed trasfer

54 posted on 12/27/2020 3:50:00 PM PST by Stars&StripesNE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: stuck_in_new_orleans

Because conspiracies are the cure for boredom.
And much more fun than the truth.........


55 posted on 12/27/2020 3:51:56 PM PST by David Chase
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

So many other targets. Why some area like that? A wasted bomb.


56 posted on 12/27/2020 3:52:46 PM PST by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: minnesota_bound

It may so that the guy was just a nut with a beef against AT&T.


57 posted on 12/27/2020 3:53:35 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: vigilante2

Exactly what I was wondering as well.


58 posted on 12/27/2020 3:53:40 PM PST by notpoliticallycorewrecked (I thank the good Lord everyday that I no longer live in CA. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: vigilante2

Probably got his DNA from inside of his home.
Your DNA is all over your house.


59 posted on 12/27/2020 3:54:04 PM PST by David Chase
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: JonPreston
Those calling this pic a missile are playing into controlled opposition. This is an object blown out of a very high pressure. Right after this the main explosion took place. The second picture is the cellar of what are called the river Tunnels. Third pic you can see the elevator doors to the tunnels blown clean out which is right behind the RV.

Also note the RV debris is setting in the location of what the FBI are calling the center of the blast. how did the debris not get blown away from the center of the blast? You know the answer.


60 posted on 12/27/2020 3:54:14 PM PST by Steve Van Doorn (*in my best Eric Cartman voice* 'I love you, guys')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-139 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson