Tragedy & Tribute

Words by Sean Saldana Photo By Will Bowling

In 2018, tragedy struck Austin, Texas, when two people were killed in a series of serial bombings. A month after his death, a mural honoring the youngest victim, 17-year-old Draylen Mason, appeared overnight in East Austin.

On March 2, 2018, Austin was thrown into a state of panic. A series of package bombs were scattered throughout the city, detonating at random. The first victim was 39-year old Anthony Stephan House who was killed at his northwest Austin home.  

Ten days later, 17-year old Draylen Mason, East Austin College Prep student, was killed while his mother, Shamika Wilson, was injured when the second bomb exploded on their doorstep. 

By March 19, after two more victims had fallen to the third and fourth bombings, police determined that the attacks were the work of a “serial bomber,” and a $115,000 reward was issued for information leading to arrest of the attacker. 

The attacks all came to an end on March 21 when the attacker drove into a ditch and detonated a bomb on himself as SWAT was closing in on him. Excluding the killer, the bombings killed two and seriously injured four others. 

A few weeks later on April 18, on a utility box at the corner of Webberville Road and Pleasant Valley, a mural appeared honoring the youngest victim, Draylen Mason. The mural shows Draylen, a member of the East Austin College Prop orchestra, dressed in a tuxedo playing the double bass. The turquoise background and placement at one of East Austin’s busiest intersections make the artwork nearly impossible to miss. 

The mural is the work of local street artist Michael Johnston. Before becoming a full-time artist, Michael spent over a decade as an educator, and this is part of why Draylen’s story spoke to him. 

Michael says, “Being a teacher for twelve years, I connected with the fact that this was a youth who had a lot of promise.” Before putting the poster up, Michael asked himself, “Where would [Draylen’s] community most appreciate this?” 

He noticed that there was an electric box about half a mile away from the church where Draylen’s funeral service was held. Thus, the location to honor such a young man was selected. He put the poster up early one morning, fearing that someone might have a negative reaction and attempt to deface the mural. 

He couldn’t have been more wrong. 

The mural was immediately embraced by the community. Within just a few days, local news outlets were on the scene covering the mural. There was massive support on social media, and Michael heard from Draylen’s family — including his mother, Shamika. 

Two years after Draylen’s death, the mural has been incorporated into a virtual tour of East Austin, March 3 has been declared Draylen Mason Tribute Day, and a scholarship in Draylen’s honor has been established by the Austin Youth Orchestra.

Did You Know?
The new KMFA location on Navasota Street will be home to the Draylen Mason Music studio. A fellowship has also been created in his name, The Draylen Mason Fellows Program, which is a full-scholarship initiative by Austin Soundwaves to assist in the musical and personal developments of high school musicians.