Austin package explosions leave teen dead, women hurt...

[HeroHog]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/12/austin-package-explosion-leaves-teen-dead-woman-hurt-after-second-blast-in-2-weeks.html

A teenager was killed and at least two women were seriously hurt after a pair of explosions rocked homes in Austin on Monday — just two weeks after a separate blast which authorities said is believed to be linked to both of Monday's incidents.

Austin Police said they received a call about the first explosion in a neighborhood on the northeast side of the city around 6:45 a.m., after the 17-year-old resident found a package on the front step, brought it inside, and opened it in the kitchen where it exploded.

"It is very similar to the incident that occurred in Austin on March 2," Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told reporters.

[Brad Johnson]

Rule #1... don't approach strange packages, much less bring them into your home.

Brad

[Fly320s]

Rule #1... don't approach strange packages, much less bring them into your home.

Brad

Could have been an Amazon box or a UPS box.  Many people would take it inside without evening thinking about it. 

[MechAg94]

On an only partially related note, I recall a story from some years back.  A person picked up a package off their porch and took it in their house.  I can't remember if they even opened it.  Soon cops shows up at their door to arrest him and seize the package.  It was mailed from Mexico with a hand written label and the post office realized it was drugs.  The cops decided to deliver it and arrest the owner.  Seems taking it inside means you took possession.  I can't remember what the resolution was.  There was speculation that it was intended to be intercepted by someone else.

I guess it pays to double check.  Most packages shipped to you have printed labels along with all the USPS / UPS / Fedex labels.  Now if someone had that and the correct printed address, I don't know how you spot that. 

I guess if an unknown box gets dropped off at your door, you should shoot some holes through it just to be sure (from a distance). 

[AJ Dual]

My personal guess is that it's tangentially related to SXSW. Some of the hard left around Austin have been angry about what they see as the festival's impact on gentrification.

Some nut is trying to say "Austin isn't safe, go home."

[K Frame]

See! This is why we need assault weapon bans in the US!

If we had assault weapons bans, this *expletive deleted*it wouldn't happen!

[HankB]

On an only partially related note, I recall a story from some years back.  A person picked up a package off their porch and took it in their house.  I can't remember if they even opened it.  Soon cops shows up at their door to arrest him and seize the package.  It was mailed from Mexico with a hand written label and the post office realized it was drugs.  The cops decided to deliver it and arrest the owner.  Seems taking it inside means you took possession.  I can't remember what the resolution was.  There was speculation that it was intended to be intercepted by someone else.

I guess it pays to double check.  Most packages shipped to you have printed labels along with all the USPS / UPS / Fedex labels.  Now if someone had that and the correct printed address, I don't know how you spot that. 

I guess if an unknown box gets dropped off at your door, you should shoot some holes through it just to be sure (from a distance). 

I think I remember that too . . . the recipient was the mayor of a small town, and after the cops kicked in his door, they shot his dog and arrested him for drug possession.

The package was still on his table, UNOPENED. Charges were ultimately dropped, and the mayor was making noises about charging the cops with trafficking in narcotics - after all, HE didn't request the package, making this a pretty blatant case of entrapment. IIRC, some undisclosed settlement was reached.

[Perd Hapley]

My personal guess is that it's tangentially related to SXSW. Some of the hard left around Austin have been angry about what they see as the festival's impact on gentrification.

Some nut is trying to say "Austin isn't safe, go home."

Maybe:

https://www.dailywire.com/news/28158/groups-multiple-cities-using-intimidation-and-frank-camp

[TommyGunn]

My personal guess is that it's tangentially related to SXSW. Some of the hard left around Austin have been angry about what they see as the festival's impact on gentrification.

Some nut is trying to say "Austin isn't safe, go home."

What is SXSW?    Inquiring minds want to know.

[Perd Hapley]

What is SXSW?    Inquiring minds want to know.

Music, arts, hipster/scenester festival:
https://www.sxsw.com/

[KD5NRH]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/12/austin-package-explosion-leaves-teen-dead-woman-hurt-after-second-blast-in-2-weeks.html

Meh.  No EEVUL GUNZZ, no news.

[Frank Castle]

There is no known motive at this time, but Manley said the blasts took place at homes of African-American and Hispanic residents so authorities "cannot rule out that hate crime is at the core of this."

Hate crime ? Have they ruled out drugs or gangs activity already? 

Montopolis is a low income, mainly Latino neighborhood located very close to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. One of the poorest neighborhoods in the city in terms of income, it has suffered a reputation for being rundown and crime-infested.

http://www.austintexasinsider.com/austinneighborhood-montopolis.html