Uncle says suspected bomber was smart, kind person

A 23-year-old suspected of planting deadly bombs that struck fear across Austin was described Wednesday by his uncle as a smart and kind “computer geek’’ and a friend said he was an assertive person who would end up being “kind of dominant and intimidating in conversation.’’ Neither had any idea what might have motivated Mark Anthony Conditt, who authorities say died after detonating a bomb in his sport utility vehicle as officers moved in for an arrest near Austin. The attacks in the Texas capital and suburban San Antonio killed two people and wounded four others.

“I mean this is coming from nowhere. We just don’t know what. I don’t know how many ways to say it but everyone is caught off guard by this,’’ Conditt’s uncle, Mike Courtney of Lakewood, Colorado, told The Associated Press.

At a news conference Wednesday evening, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said he considers a 25-minute recording on a cellphone found with Conditt a “confession,’’ in which Conditt talks in great detail about the differences among the bombs he built. But Manley suggested that there might never be a clear motive, noting where the explosives were placed or addressed seems random.

Conditt grew up in Pflugerville, a suburb just northeast of Austin where he was still living just a few miles from his parents’ home after moving out. On Wednesday, authorities recovered homemade explosives from inside the residence, which he shared with roommates.

Conditt’s family said in a statement they had “no idea of the darkness that Mark must have been in.’’

Conditt was the oldest of four children who were all home-schooled.

Jeff Reeb, a neighbour of Conditt’s parents in Pflugerville for about 17 years, said he watched Conditt grow up and that he always seemed “smart’’ and “polite.’’ Reeb, 75, said Conditt and his grandson played together into middle school and that Conditt regularly visited his parents, whom Reeb described as good neighbours.

Conditt attended Austin Community College from 2010 to 2012 and was a business administration major, but he did not graduate, according to college spokeswoman Jessica Vess.

She said records indicate that no disciplinary actions were made against Conditt.