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| Police: Austin shooter was a ‘homegrown American extremist’ | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Larry McQuilliams had “let me die” written in marker across his chest when he fired more than 100 rounds in downtown Austin early Friday morning. | Larry McQuilliams had “let me die” written in marker across his chest when he fired more than 100 rounds in downtown Austin early Friday morning. |
| McQuilliams, who Austin Police officials called a “homegrown American extremist” with ties to a Christian hate group, was shot dead on Friday by a police officer outside the department’s headquarters. | McQuilliams, who Austin Police officials called a “homegrown American extremist” with ties to a Christian hate group, was shot dead on Friday by a police officer outside the department’s headquarters. |
| Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo told reporters on Monday that officers who searched the gunman’s home found a map with 34 targets, including two churches. McQuilliams had fired bullets into Austin police headquarters, a federal courthouse and the Mexican consulate in downtown Austin on Friday. He also tried to set the Mexican consulate building on fire. | |
| Previously, police said they had not yet determined the motive for the shooting, which left only the gunman dead, but speculated that the current immigration debate could have been a factor. On Monday, federal investigators said the gunman didn’t leave a note that outlined his motive, but that he had previously told friends he was upset he couldn’t find a job, even as immigrants to the United States receive assistance. | Previously, police said they had not yet determined the motive for the shooting, which left only the gunman dead, but speculated that the current immigration debate could have been a factor. On Monday, federal investigators said the gunman didn’t leave a note that outlined his motive, but that he had previously told friends he was upset he couldn’t find a job, even as immigrants to the United States receive assistance. |
| On his bed, the gunman left a note and laid out clothes, officials said. A note left behind said the outfit was for his funeral. | On his bed, the gunman left a note and laid out clothes, officials said. A note left behind said the outfit was for his funeral. |
| “Hate was in his heart,” Acevedo said. | “Hate was in his heart,” Acevedo said. |
| Evidence obtained by @Austin_Police determined Suspect McQuliams was a self-titled "High Priest" of the "Phineaus Priesthood." — Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) December 1, 2014 | |
| Evidence obtained by @Austin_Police determined Suspect McQuliams was a self-titled "High Priest" of the "Phineaus Priesthood." | |
| — Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) December 1, 2014 | |
| Police believe McQuilliams was associated with the Phineas Priesthood, an anti-Semitic, anti-multiculturalism group that opposes biracial relationships, same-sex marriage, taxation and abortion. Authorities found a copy of “Vigilantes of Christendom,” a book linked to the group, in the rental van McQuilliams used during the attacks, NBC Austin affiliate KXAN reported. | Police believe McQuilliams was associated with the Phineas Priesthood, an anti-Semitic, anti-multiculturalism group that opposes biracial relationships, same-sex marriage, taxation and abortion. Authorities found a copy of “Vigilantes of Christendom,” a book linked to the group, in the rental van McQuilliams used during the attacks, NBC Austin affiliate KXAN reported. |
| The group is tied to a string of 1996 bank robberies and bombings in the state of Washington. The Southern Poverty Law Center described the group’s followers as “racist and anti-Semitic Christian Identity terrorists who feel they’ve been called by God to undertake violent attacks.” | |
| In a backgrounder, the Anti-defamation league wrote that “the Phineas Priesthood is not a membership organization in the traditional sense: there are no meetings, rallies or newsletters.” The ADL added that “extremists become ‘members’ when they commit ‘Phineas acts:’ any violent activity against ‘non-whites.’” | |
| “If you look at what he did, he terrorized a city, he’s just an American terrorist trying to terrorize our people,” Acevedo said. | “If you look at what he did, he terrorized a city, he’s just an American terrorist trying to terrorize our people,” Acevedo said. |
| Law enforcement officials will continue to investigate the gunman’s background, the police chief said. | Law enforcement officials will continue to investigate the gunman’s background, the police chief said. |
| Among other things investigators need to determine: How McQuilliams got his weapons. He had been arrested in 1998 for driving under the influence and in 1992 for aggravated robbery, Acevedo said. He also served time in prison for a bank robbery. | Among other things investigators need to determine: How McQuilliams got his weapons. He had been arrested in 1998 for driving under the influence and in 1992 for aggravated robbery, Acevedo said. He also served time in prison for a bank robbery. |
| This post has been updated. |