Overview
- Explosive materials found at a property on the 2700 block of Fischer Store Road were moved to a nearby open field and destroyed in controlled detonations, authorities said Thursday morning.
- The Austin Police Department Bomb Squad and the ATF responded after Hays County fire and sheriff’s personnel assessed the scene and determined detonation was the safest disposal method.
- Investigators attributed the explosives to a former tenant, identified as Robert Chapman, who died in a drowning at Canyon Lake in late August.
- Hays County mistakenly sent a shelter-in-place notification to nearby residents during the detonations, and Fire Marshal Jake Vierra apologized and opened an internal review of the alert process.
- The ATF investigation remains active and the county review will examine how the erroneous message was sent and recommend changes to reduce future public alarm.