Family of Austin bombing suspect ‘devastated and broken’

The family of the man suspected of terrorizing Austin, Texas, with a series of bombings said Wednesday that they are in a state of shock after reports that their relative was behind the attacks and are praying for the families of his victims.

In a statement to CNN, Mark Anthony Conditt’s aunt, identified only as Shanee, said the family had “no idea of the darkness that Mark must have been in.”

“We are devastated and broken at the news that our family could be involved in such an awful way,” she said. “We had no idea of the darkness that Mark must have been in. Our family is a normal family in every way. We love, we pray, and we try to inspire and serve others.” 

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“Right now our prayers are for those families that have lost loved ones, for those impacted in any way, and for the soul of our Mark. We are grieving and we are in shock. Please respect our privacy as we deal with this terrible, terrible knowledge and try to support each other through this time,” she said.

Multiple news outlets identified Conditt, 23, as the suspect in the bombings, which have rattled the Austin area in recent weeks. At least two people were killed and five others were wounded in the blasts.

Authorities have said only that the suspect was killed early Wednesday when he blew himself up in his car as law enforcement bore down on him outside Round Rock, Texas.