Authorities have a person or persons of interest in connection to the Christmas Day explosion that rocked the city, CBS News reported on Saturday.
“CBS News has learned that police have a person of interest or persons of interest in connection with the explosion that rocked Nashville on Christmas Day, @jeffpeguescbs reports,” the outlet reported in a Saturday afternoon update, with CBS’s Jeff Pegues reporting Nashville area resident Anthony Quinn Warner, who reportedly “had a similar make and model RV,” as the person of interest:
…#exclusive @CBSNews has learned the name of a person of interest tied to the explosion that rocked #Nashville on #Christmas Day. Multiple sources tell us that Anthony Quinn Warner, a Nashville area resident, had a similar make and model RV.
— Jeff Pegues (@jeffpeguescbs) December 26, 2020
JUST IN: CBS News has learned that police have a person of interest or persons of interest in connection with the explosion that rocked Nashville on Christmas Day, @jeffpeguescbs reports.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 26, 2020
…@CBSNews #EXCLUSIVE
CBS News has learned that #police have a person of interest or persons of interest in connection with the #explosion that rocked #Nashville on #ChristmasDay.— Jeff Pegues (@jeffpeguescbs) December 26, 2020
Six officers have been recognized by the Metro Police after swiftly evacuating residents prior to an RV exploding on an empty street in downtown Nashville early Christmas morning. According to Nashville Police Chief John Drake, police were originally responding to a call of shots fired in the area before hearing a warning from a loudspeaker, urging people to evacuate the area because of a potential bomb.
“This morning, around 5:30 a.m., officers responded to a call for shots fired in the downtown area, specifically 2nd and near Commerce. As officers responded, they encountered an RV that had a recording saying that a potential bomb would detonate within 15 minutes,” Drake said in a Friday update, noting that officers knocked on doors, made announcements, and evacuated nearby buildings.
“Shortly after that, the RV exploded,” he said. “We had one officer that was knocked to the ground. Another officer is fine.”
The explosion appeared to be intentional but “meant to limit casualties,” as Breitbart News reported. According to the Associated Press, authorities found human remains in the area of the explosion, which damaged dozens of businesses.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper signed an executive order Friday, issuing a state of civil emergency for the area “bounded by James Robertson Parkway, 4th Ave north, Broadway and the Cumberland River.”
“A curfew will start at 4:30pm, Friday Dec 25. and be lifted Sunday, December 27 at 4:30pm,” he announced:
I have signed Executive Order 12 to issue a state of civil emergency proclaimed within the area bounded by James Robertson Parkway, 4th Ave north, Broadway and the Cumberland River. A curfew will start at 4:30pm, Friday Dec 25. and be lifted Sunday, December 27 at 4:30pm. pic.twitter.com/jZ484LrHZ7
— Mayor John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) December 25, 2020
Update: Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the suspect “may have been killed in the explosion.” Human remains found at the scene are being tested to determine if they belong to the suspect.
Law enforcement sources tell CBS News the leading theory is that the suspect may have been killed in the explosion in Nashville. DNA tests on human remains found at the scene are being conducted to determine if they belong to the suspect or to someone else https://t.co/FCZdy13a6b
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) December 26, 2020
Story cited here.