Pipe Bomb Suspect's Family Runs 'Brian Cole Bail Bonds' Company: Reports
Brian Cole Jr., the suspect in the Washington D.C. pipe bomb case, worked for a family company in Virginia called "Brian Cole Bail Bonds."
That's according to The New York Post.The Post spoke to the suspect's grandma, Loretta, who confirmed the business but denied that her 30-year-old grandson had anything to do with the pipe bombs, calling him "gentle" and "naive."
The government has now released the criminal complaint. It says that Brian J. Cole Jr. "lives in a single-family house with his mother and other family members. Cole works in the office of a bail bondsman in northern Virginia," it says. The complaint alleges that authorities pieced together a web of forensic evidence in the case, including cell phone records allegedly putting Cole Jr. in the area of the attack, material purchases that are similar to materials used in the pipe bombs, and a license plate reader of Cole's car.
Brian Cole Bail Bonds "was raided by the FBI," The Post reported, adding that the suspect's grandmother also said he previously worked as a DoorDash driver. Reuters also reported that Cole works for a bail bonds company, but did not name it, and added that he lives with his parents in Woodbridge, Virginia. No evidence has emerged linking the dad or any other family members to the pipe bomb attack, to be clear. Authorities charged the son, Cole Jr., with the pipe bomb attack, releasing his name in a press conference.
Cole Jr. "has been charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and malicious destruction by means of explosion," CNN reported.
What Is the 'Brian Cole Bail Bonds Company'?
(Photo by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
Cole is the son of Brian Cole Sr., according to NBC News. He declined to comment when contacted by the network.
The Yelp page for the bail bonds company has only two reviews, and it's from people reacting to the news that Cole Jr. is the suspect in the highly public D.C. pipe bomb case, which went unsolved since 2021. The pipe bombs did not detonate, but the suspect's identity had been a mystery despite a lot of surveillance footage showing him at the scene. The Yelp page says the company is located in Fairfax, Virginia.
“On January 5, 2021, an unidentified individual placed pipe bombs near the DNC and RNC offices in Washington, D.C., between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. EST. The FBI and its partners are renewing their call for tips from the public, with a reward available of up to $500,000. This video contains previously unreleased footage of the suspect placing one of the bombs at the DNC,” the FBI wrote on its website.
A court decision that mentions a company named "Brian Cole Bail Bonds, LLC," says that a Brian Cole "had filed for bankruptcy" and testified that he had "worked in the bonding industry for 30 years and had no criminal history."
A Neighbor Described Brian Cole Jr. as 'Very Antisocial. Very'
A neighbor spoke to The New York Post about Cole Jr., describing him as "very antisocial. Very. He keeps to himself.”
She added: "He has a dog that he loves. He walks every day, twice a day, to 7-Eleven with his dog and he wears his headphones.”
The suspect's grandmother Loretta told The Post, “He’s almost autistic-like because he doesn’t understand a lot of stuff. I hope he is not talking. He’s very naive…He would not hurt a fly. He’s just not that kind of person.”
“I don’t believe this at all,” she added. “He’s not a terrorist.”