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AUSTIN (KXAN) – The gunman who attacked the federal courthouse, the Mexican consulate and the Austin Police Department headquarters was killed by a single shot taken from 312 feet away by mounted patrol Sgt. Adam Johnson who also held the reigns of two horses.
Sgt. Johnson told Chief Art Acevedo that he credits “divine intervention” and that the other officers in the mounted patrol unit who were advancing on the shooter should get the majority of the credit.
Acevedo described Larry Steve McQuilliams as being heavily armed with two “long rifle guns” including a .22 caliber and an AK-47-style weapon. In the rental van he used during the attacks, police found a book titled “Vigilantes of Christendom” as well as multiple propane cans fashioned as Improvised Explosive Devices. Also inside the van, officers found a map with 34 targets, including two downtown churches.
When officers rushed in to take McQuilliams into custody, they discovered he was wearing a tactical vest and a backpack hydration unit, something Acevedo says is an indication he was planning to continue the assault.
Upon further investigation they also discovered he had “Let me Die” written on his chest. When officers went into McQuilliams’ apartment, they found clothes laid out on his bed indicating they were the ones he was to wear to his funeral.
Previous history
McQuilliams was arrested by Austin Police in 1992 following an armed robbery of an armored car at First State Bank. He was later convicted on federal charges of an armed robbery that landed him in federal prison until June 16th, 2000.
He moved to Austin in April of 2013. At one point, he had a job at a car wash on Lamar for about four months. He left the job sometime around May.
Possible Motives
“This man is a homegrown American extremist,” chief Acevedo said, “This is what keeps me up at night, these homegrown lone wolf terrorists.”
Investigators said in the news conference that McQuilliams was part of an ultra-conservative Christian group that hated homosexuality and bi-racial families. He was unable to find work and believed immigrants were offered more community services than he was.
“Hate was in his heart,” Acevedo said.
AUSTIN (KXAN) – The gunman who attacked the federal courthouse, the Mexican consulate and the Austin Police Department headquarters was killed by a single shot taken from 312 feet away by mounted patrol Sgt. Adam Johnson who also held the reigns of two horses.
Sgt. Johnson told Chief Art Acevedo that he credits “divine intervention” and that the other officers in the mounted patrol unit who were advancing on the shooter should get the majority of the credit.
Acevedo described Larry Steve McQuilliams as being heavily armed with two “long rifle guns” including a .22 caliber and an AK-47-style weapon. In the rental van he used during the attacks, police found a book titled “Vigilantes of Christendom” as well as multiple propane cans fashioned as Improvised Explosive Devices. Also inside the van, officers found a map with 34 targets, including two downtown churches.
When officers rushed in to take McQuilliams into custody, they discovered he was wearing a tactical vest and a backpack hydration unit, something Acevedo says is an indication he was planning to continue the assault.
Upon further investigation they also discovered he had “Let me Die” written on his chest. When officers went into McQuilliams’ apartment, they found clothes laid out on his bed indicating they were the ones he was to wear to his funeral.
Previous history
McQuilliams was arrested by Austin Police in 1992 following an armed robbery of an armored car at First State Bank. He was later convicted on federal charges of an armed robbery that landed him in federal prison until June 16th, 2000.
He moved to Austin in April of 2013. At one point, he had a job at a car wash on Lamar for about four months. He left the job sometime around May.
Possible Motives
“This man is a homegrown American extremist,” chief Acevedo said, “This is what keeps me up at night, these homegrown lone wolf terrorists.”
Investigators said in the news conference that McQuilliams was part of an ultra-conservative Christian group that hated homosexuality and bi-racial families. He was unable to find work and believed immigrants were offered more community services than he was.
“Hate was in his heart,” Acevedo said.
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