By Tuesday night, authorities had obtained a federal warrant for Conditt’s arrest, charging him with unlawful possession and transfer of a destructive device. The affidavit that provides the explanation for the warrant remains under court seal.
Related: Austin bomb suspect Mark Anthony Conditt used ‘exotic’ batteries in explosives, sources say
At some point, Conditt — who authorities say had no criminal history — turned off his cellphone, making it difficult to track him, two senior law enforcement officials said. But late Tuesday or early Wednesday, he switched it back on, alerting police to his position. They began following him.
As investigators made preparations to take Conditt into custody — there was the possibility of more explosions — the suspect got into his car and drove away, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told reporters Wednesday. Officers tailed him, while tactical vehicles made their way to the area.
Then Conditt stopped the car in a ditch alongside Interstate 35. A member of the Austin Police Department’s SWAT team approached. An explosion went off inside the car, Manley said. The blast knocked the SWAT officer back. Another officer fired at the car.
They finally had their man. And he was dead.
But the case is not closed, authorities cautioned.
In Conditt’s apartment, investigators found a large amount of bomb-making materials, multiple senior law enforcement officials told NBC News.
“There are still two things we did not know,” Abbott told KXAN. “We don’t know whether or not he had preset or mailed any other bombs before he was apprehended. We also have not been able to rule out if there are any other accomplices who may be a part of this who still pose a danger.”
And authorities still are working to understand Conditt himself, and what drove him to plant the bombs.
“I think we will be able to piece together the puzzle of who this man was and why he did what he did,” Abbott said. “And that will resolve a lot of the uncertainty that still exists.”