“Seventeen-year-old African-American double bassist Draylen Mason has been killed” by a bomb in a package left at his home on Monday, states an article on Tuesday’s (3/13) Violin Channel. The explosion was one of several recent package-bomb explosions at the homes of people of color in Austin, Texas. “An honor roll bass student at the East Austin College Prep, where he studied with William Dick, Mason was a member of the Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Austin Youth Orchestra, and the Austin Soundwaves. Police have indicated that three package bombs exploded at homes in the Texas capital over the past ten days, killing two people, including Draylen, and injuring two others. On each occasion, the victims found packages outside their homes, none of which had been delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or a delivery service. Police have indicated that they believe the incidents are related—and could possibly be racial hate crimes, as all four victims are of African-American and/or Hispanic descent. Draylen’s grandparents are both prominent members of Austin’s African-American community.… Authorities are offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.” The Monday morning blast also left Martin’s mother with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.
Posted March 14, 2018
