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Thursday, June 20, 2013 | 8:31 a.m.

Posted: 8:42 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Suicidal bomber targeted Clearfield Twp. family

By Maria Miller

CLEARFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. —


Investigators are revealing more information about a house explosion in Cambria County.

They said Bradley Kollar detonated explosives in an attempt to murder the people who lived there. Kollar was killed in the blast, and two people who were inside the Clearfield Township home were hurt.

Family and friends were on the scene for the first time Wednesday evening, combing through the debris. While there are are still many unanswered questions, 6 News has learned a lot in just 24 hours. Not only have investigators released more information of what happened and who they suspect  did it, they have also said the suspect and victims were acquaintances and even talked just before the explosion happened.

The two-story home in Clearfield Township was leveled, and now, police are calling it an intentional attack. They classified it as criminal attempted homicide.

"We believe the suspect specifically targeted the Shaner family for specific reasons unknown at this time," said Trooper John Matchik of the Pennsylvania State Police.

Police said Kollar drove to the home shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday, and that's when, they said, he detonated some type of explosive device. The home and all the contents were left scattered as far as 200 yards away.

"It was a very significant explosion, and the true nature of it has yet to be determined," said Matchik.

Kollar was found dead at the scene. The corner ruled it a suicide.

Police said the homeowner, Bill Shaner, and his teenage son were inside at the time. Both of them were transported with critical injuries.

But before the explosion happened, police said, Kollar called Shaner's phone.

"We believe it may have been a threat, but we're still looking into it," said Matchik.

Police are not commenting on what was said, but in a search warrant obtained by 6 News, a witness told police Kollar said, "I got you now, you snitch."

Police confirmed Kollar was to be sentenced Tuesday morning in Cambria County court for charges that stem back to last year, when they found the makings of a meth lab in his Hastings home. Shortly after, the district attorney said, Kollar attempted suicide by explosives.

6 News got ahold of a phone conversation recorded by officials at the Cambria County jail. Police said Kollar can be heard talking to an inmate, frustrated that his attempt had failed.

"I opened my eyes up and saw smoke. I said, 'It's still going, it's still going,'" said Kollar in the recording. "I was sitting there and I look, and all of a sudden it went out."

That phone recording was played in court last year. The district attorney petitioned to have Kollar thrown back in jail, but the judge denied the request. 

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