Suspect in Nashville explosion died in blast: US officials
What's the story
The man believed to be responsible for the Christmas Day bombing that tore through downtown Nashville died in the explosion and appears to have acted alone, federal officials said. Investigators used DNA and other evidence to link the man, identified as Anthony Quinn Warner, to the mysterious explosion but said they have not determined a motive.
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'No indication that any other persons were involved'
Despite receiving hundreds of leads and tips, officials believed that only Warner alone could have done it. "We're still following leads, but right now there is no indication that any other persons were involved. We've reviewed hours of security video surrounding the recreation vehicle. We saw no other people involved," Douglas Korneski, special agent in charge of the FBI's Memphis field office, said.
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Mystery behind the explosion remains
Despite a major breakthrough in their investigation, the mystery behind the explosion remains. No motive was disclosed by investigators nor was it revealed why Warner had selected the particular location for the bombing. An AT&T building was damaged in the explosion and cell phone services, and police and hospital communications were disrupted in several Southern states as the company worked to restore them.
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The explosion was accompanied by a warning message
The explosion was accompanied by a recorded warning from an RV that a bomb would soon detonate. A Google Maps image captured in May 2019 had shown a similar RV parked in the backyard, but it was not at the property on Saturday, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. On Sunday morning, police formally named Warner as being under investigation.
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How did Warner become a suspect?
Public records show Warner had experience with electronics and alarms and also worked as a computer consultant for a Nashville realtor. He had been linked to the bombing since at least Saturday when federal and local investigators converged on a home in suburban Nashville connected to him. Federal agents could be seen looking around the property, searching the home and the backyard.
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Several key pieces of evidence led to Warner
The officials said their identification of Warner involved several key pieces of evidence, including DNA found at the explosion site. "Investigators from the Tennessee Highway Patrol also recovered parts from the recreational vehicle where the bomb was detonated among the wreckage from the blast and were able to link the vehicle identification number to an RV that was registered to Warner," they said.