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Police: Shooter Dead After Targeting Downtown Austin

Gunman Who Fired 100 Rounds at Buildings ID'd: Austin PD

A gunman, who attempted to set the Mexican Consulate ablaze and fired more than 100 rounds at buildings in downtown Austin early Friday before he died, was identified as Larry McQuilliams, 50, Austin police said in a Twitter post.

McQuilliams shot at the consulate, Austin police headquarters, the U.S. courthouse and other locations. Some of the buildings are in the popular Sixth Street entertainment district, where bars close at 2 a.m., about the same time the shootings began Friday. Police Chief Art Acevedo noted that thousands of people are typically on the street at that time.

"Many, many rounds were fired in downtown Austin," Acevedo said. "With all the people on the streets, we're very fortunate. I give thanks that no one but the suspect is injured or deceased."

Mexico's Foreign Relations Department issued a statement expressing "profound concern and condemnation" of the attack, but also said "there is no evidence the shots were exclusively directed at our facility."

Acevedo said a police sergeant shot at the gunman outside the police station. Acevedo said it's not clear if police fatally shot the suspect or if he took his own life.

The sergeant, who had just completed a mounted horse patrol, was holding the reins to two horses when he fired, Acevedo said.

Police said McQuilliams was an Austin resident with a criminal record.

"I woke up at about 2:30 this morning to the sound of gunfire," Hans Paap, who lives near the police headquarters, told NBC 5. "I ran to my window just in time to see a final muzzle flash and hear another round of gun bursts."

Munguia said they received 911 calls about shots fired at three buildings downtown at 2:22 a.m. local time (3:22 a.m. ET).

Munguia said an officer who was outside police headquarters saw the man who was wearing some type of vest.

"One of our officers saw the gunmen and saw the building was under attack," he said. "At 2:33 a.m., the officer returned fire and the suspect went to the ground."

Munguia said the suspect was in a vehicle but when officers approached they "noticed what appeared to be an improvised explosive device." 

"There were suspicious cylinders inside his vehicle," Munguia said. "Any time you have cylinders, you have to think about IEDs."

The man's vehicle was parked in an area near police headquarters, the Mexican consulate and a U.S. federal courthouse. Investigators used a bomb-disposal robot to try to determine if the man had improvised explosive devices in his vehicle.

"The vehicle has been cleared by the bomb squad, as has the suspect," Munguia said.

Police said they reopened Interstate 35 in both directions after it was closed southbound at 15th Street and northbound at Cesar Chavez Street while authorities investigated the shooting.

Munguia said no one else was hurt.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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