The head of the person's fraternity disputed David Boren that this person was depressed.
I got to thinking. If this student was a depressed lone nut who just wanted to kill himself outside of the stadium to get maximum attention some things do not make sense.
The reports from police say the bomb was strapped to his body. I'll assume this was true. In that case.
Why the heck would he need a backpack. I can not imagine he carried the bomb in the backpack, removed it in a very public place and then strapped it on. If the bomb was not in the back pack- why would he need to carry it? To put some kind of message in? Public suicide seems like a pretty clear message that you think your life is hopeless.
No what makes sense is that the backpack (provided there were no explosives in it) was a diversionary device. From what you said the stadium was swept with bomb sniffing dogs. An unusual occurance from what you know of the game protocol. If a warning and I say IF was received I think campus and police authorities would have been hyper alert to any abandoned packages, backpacks, briefcases, purses etc. So while they are busy checking out the suspicious package what better time for a college student with a bomb strapped to mingle with crowds coming out of the stadium.
Yes I know it is pure conjecture. And even if his only intent was to kill himself he sure picked a spot that did not assure no others would be injured.
Plus I think we will find he will fit the profile of someone who gets angered by some perceived personal or political injustice and is attracted to radical groups.
I think you may be on to something.
I don't like this assumption that just because the poor kid was depressed, he decided to blow himself up. It's too bizarre. More importantly, it is an overly convenient explanation that, once accepted, can be re-used in the future. ("Move along sheeple; nothing to see here, he was just depressed...")
Another possibility: (Put on your tin foil hats?)
Mr. Hinrich was framed/coerced.
1. Someone puts a device in his backpack (unknownst to him), or leaves it next to him on the bench & runs away. Or perhaps they strap it to him under threat of force.
2. The posts here assert that Mr. Hinrichs was familiar with guns and was a loner type. Both of these qualities make him a perfect patsy. If I were an evil terrorist mastermind*, I certainly wouldn't pick Miss "I'm scared of guns" Homecoming to do my dirty work.
3. Plus if he were familiar with guns and truly suicidal, wouldn't he use that instead?
4. Mr. Hinrichs' father in his quote (See #3219) sounds much more bewildered than anything else.
5. If may even be possible that Mr. Hinrich, being familiar with weapons, somehow managed to detonate the bomb early to minimize loss of life. For all we know he may be a hero.
6. President Boren says "He has had what I would call emotional difficulties in the past." Now come on FReepers, imagine if Mr. Hinrichs was an outspoken conservative and Boren a typical lefty campus administrator. How likely would he be deemed to "have emotional problems"???
*: Don't worry I am not an evil terrorist mastermind.