Teen Killed By Austin Bomber Accepted To Oberlin Conservatory

OBERLIN, OH – One of the two victims of the three-weeks-long bombing spree in Austin, Texas should have been celebrating his acceptance into the prestigious Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College. But Draylen Mason never received that acceptance letter, which would have arrived on Friday.

The gifted bass player died in a blast on March 12. His mother, Shamika Wilson, also was severely injured in the blast.

Michael Manderen, admissions director for the conservatory, told the Associated Press that Mason had earned one of 130 highly coveted spots in the program. He, along with others accepted into the program, would have been notified on Friday, Manderen said.

Mason also had been accepted into the University of Texas-Austin's Butler School of Music. He also had distinguished himself in the youth orchestra program Austin Soundwaves, a group that provides free music instruction to artistically underserved children, particularly in East Austin.

The accused bomber, Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, killed himself Wednesday morning by detonating one of his bombs during a police pursuit just outside Austin. In a recording he left behind, Conditt says, "I wish I were sorry, but I am not." Conditt also left a message that he had wanted to enter a crowded McDonald's restaurant and detonate one of his bombs.

A memorial fund for Mason has been setup at YouCaring.

Over the course of a bombing spree that began March 2 and concluded with the final suicidal blast on March 21, Conditt killed two people, including Mason and Anthony Stephan House, a 39-year-old father of one child. Conditt's seven bombs also injured five others.

Photo of Draylen Mason via YouCaring