Something for me to chew on..... all aboard....
Posted on 10/02/2005 9:13:39 PM PDT by WestTexasWend
NORMAN - Local and federal law officers worked Sunday to remove what was described as a cache of explosive material from the apartment of a man who died in a bombing the night before.
Joel Henry Hinrichs III, 21, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., died in the explosion, FBI officials said.
Investigators believe Hinrichs detonated a bomb about 8 p.m. Saturday, just 100 yards away from a packed football stadium.
Officials confirmed Sunday a cache of explosive material later was found inside Hinrichs’ residence at the university- owned Parkview Apartments, southeast of Lindsey Street and Stinson Avenue.
The FBI, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and Norman police’s bomb squad were removing the material Sunday evening.
Police were overheard telling residents it would take “several trips and could take up to 24 hours” to remove it all.
Four buildings at Parkview Apartments, including the building where Hinrichs lived, were cordoned off with police tape.
Mike McMahon, who lives across the street from Hinrichs’ building, said he was on his porch at 3 a.m. Sunday “when they (police) started moving in.”
“That’s when the (yellow crime scene) tape went up,” McMahon said.
Whitney Pearson said she woke at 9 a.m. to find police blocking access to George Street where she lives. Across the street, she could see crime scene tape snaking around buildings at Parkview Apartments.
“I talked to police, and they told me I would be safe as long as I stayed on my side of the tape,” Pearson said.
OU and Norman police officers were posted at intersections to keep people away from the taped-off area. FBI and ATFE agents could be seen moving in and out of the buildings most of the day.
A canister trailer used for detonating or transporting potentially explosive material was being used to haul items away.
They started removing items after 7 p.m.
On Sunday, Boren said reports about authorities finding an unexploded bomb Saturday night were false.
Investigators did set off a second explosion, but it involved a suspicious object located near the blast site that did not contain a bomb, Boren said.
Law enforcement acted quickly and efficiently responding to the emergency, Boren said.
“Student safety is our number one concern,” Boren said.
FBI investigators packaged and removed the bench where the bomber was seated when the explosives went off.
A scorched patch marred the sidewalk where the bench had been removed.
Crime scene tape blocking access to the South Oval was removed by Sunday afternoon. Tape was repositioned around a bus and limousine parked on the oval in front of George Lynn Cross Hall, OU’s botany-microbiology building, prior to Saturday night’s game. Blood spattered the lower length of the bus.
No other damage to the area, including the microbiology building, was apparent.
Officials said Hinrichs’ motive for blowing himself up Saturday near the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium during the second quarter of OU’s game against Kansas State remains under investigation.
OU President David Boren said Hinrichs was a student “who had very, serious personal problems that led to this tragic death.”
Because of what happened, Boren said, the FBI had taken over the investigation.
Boren said the student had explosives strapped to his body.
Investigators would not say whether they believe Hinrichs intended to go inside the stadium before the detonation happened.
"We are dealing with an individual death caused by an explosive device,” Boren said. “There is no continuing threat to the students at OU.”
Boren said OU classes would be held as usual Oct. 3.
Notified of his son’s death Sunday, Hinrichs’ father said he was still processing what happened and did not trust himself to say much.
“I don’t want him defined by whatever limitations led him to this,” said Joel H. Hinrichs Jr. of Colorado Springs. “He was quite introverted. He was a very quiet, introverted, intelligent young man. I can’t approximate what led him to make such a final decision.”
Hinrichs Jr., who broke down in tears during a brief phone interview with The Oklahoman, said he plans to have his son’s remains cremated and the ashes sent back to Colorado.
Thankfully, I only have one great big wooly eyebrow. :)
Depends on the FBI folks involved. Google Danny Defenbaugh.
The one thing that makes me wonder if they're still trying to round people up is that two news channels (so far) have said his Pakistani roommate can't be found. They also state he had no involvement whatever--which strains credibility to say the least! Roomie not involved? Then how the heck did he put together all those explosives without tipping him off??
That's what I am thinking as well -- detonating from somewhere else. I think it was an accident it blew up when it did -- not intentional but have to admit that I am really glad it did blow up when it did. We walk right by there going to and from games.
That picture blew me away after the explosives from his apartment that were detonated last night by Norman Police that shook my window and I am five miles away -- I drove to make sure this afternoon. That was no little amount of explosive material.
Norman and OU had some angels looking out for them that night. In my opinion, this guy did not intend it to be a lone suicide, but a massacre.
Pakistani would go along with the girl's description at my son's fraternity as they are dark skinned. No way could this guy be doing all of this and his roommate not know.
The Administration of OU would be better to say no comment then the stuff they are trying to peddle as facts.
I don't trust Boren a bit. I would assume that OU is roughly the size of Ohio State, which means there's something close to 100,000 students there. That he would know this one and know anything about him on short notice is unreasonable.
his room-mate was Pakistani? Is this confirmed? this could be the key link in this story.
I agree with you 100%! Thank God this blew up early and they wouldn't let someone in the stadium with a backpack. I cannot imagine the scene if he had gotten in the stadium and the bomb was detonated.
In their shoes, it might look better to seem evasive than to look like liars--which is how they're looking right now. Actually, they're look like evasive liars.
This is per local news, the ABC and CBS affiliates. Nothing in print--at least not yet.
We have about 30,000 but even then there is no way he would know an individual student to be able to make such a statement right away. I am still frosted over his statement he knew we were all safe in the stands. That was impossible for him to know IMHO!
On the news tonight!
Something for me to chew on..... all aboard....
Evasive liars works for me. He should have said this is an active investigation and details will be forthcoming instead of getting out in front with the depression story right away that night. That story has totally fallen apart. Now people won't go on the record -- there is a lot more here and explains why FBI, etc. are in the center of the investigation.
I can only hope the FBI follows that link - where is this room mate?
Something tells me that if he could, Boren would bury this deeper than China--concerned parents might consider pulling their kids out of a university that has terrorists attending classes...and the local, state and federal officials probably wish this one would go away too.
My concern is--where is the roomie? In the wind, or just down the road planning another op?
Boren might be concerned about a backlash from his customers (students and parents), unless ... the situation is the same at pratically every campus in the country.
"The one thing that makes me wonder if they're still trying to round people up is that two news channels (so far) have said his Pakistani roommate can't be found."
Whoa were is the link to this Pakistani roommate? This is the first I have heard of this.
" They also state he had no involvement whatever--which strains credibility to say the least! Roomie not involved? Then how the heck did he put together all those explosives without tipping him off??"
Yeah sure! No involvement.
Pkistani roommate, huh? No involvement. Sure.
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