Suspect In Astoria Bombings Kills Self Small Bombs Detonated At Coffee Shops; One Other Person Hurt
The suspect in two bombings that occurred minutes apart at two popular coffee shops during Sunday brunch shot and killed himself in the confusion as diners fled one of the restaurants.
The first bomb exploded at the Dutch Cup restaurant about 10:59 a.m., and the second bomb exploded at the Pig & Pancake restaurant about a quarter mile away three to four minutes later, Police Chief Rob Deu Pree said.
The Pig & Pancake was packed with diners when the bomb went off. One person, cut by flying shards of glass, was treated at Columbia Memorial Hospital and released, said Dick Lang, an Astoria police dispatcher.
Linda Nichols, a waitress at the Pig & Pancake, told KAST-AM she “heard an explosion and saw plaster fall from the ceiling, then heard another two pops and saw a guy fall in front of the cash register.
“Apparently he had put a gun to his head,” she said.
Police arriving at the Pig & Pancake after the explosion found the body of an adult white male. Neither the man’s identity nor the cause of death had been determined, Lang said.
“We are looking to link this suspect to both bombings,” Lang said.
Police were interviewing witnesses at the scene Sunday night as the Oregon State Police bomb squad delicately probed the debris to determine any further threat, Lang said.
“We don’t have any confirmation at this time of what type of bombs they were,” Lang said, adding that both were “fairly small.”
“The only reports I’ve received described fairly minor damage,” he said. “A Sunday morning, two popular restaurants with one minor injury, you can draw your own conclusions as to how strong the bomb was in both cases.”
Police said they had no idea as to why someone would bomb the two popular restaurants.
“We have received no warning calls about the explosions and we have received no calls subsequent to the explosions claiming responsibility or explaining any motive,” Lang said.
Republican Senate candidate Gordon Smith had made a campaign stop at the Pig & Pancake just a few hours earlier, but there appeared to be no connection to the explosions, Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said.
Still, Oregon State Police joined Smith on his campaign tour of the state as a precaution, and local police along Smith’s route were alerted.
“I hope it wasn’t directed at our campaign,” Smith said later of the bombing. “We were not notified of any threats to the campaign and sincerely hope there’s no connection.”
Smith said he was not worried about his personal safety, but would take any precautions state police advise.
“My first concern is for the people of Astoria,” he said. “I’m relieved there were no other injuries, other than to the bomber. It’s a tragedy. “