Austin gunman dead after shooting rampage

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A gunman fired more than 100 shots in downtown Austin, Texas early Friday morning before being shot dead by a police officer, U.S. media reported.

The gunman, identified as 49-year-old Larry Steve McQuilliams, opened fire two hours after midnight in at least three different buildings in downtown Austin -- a federal courthouse, a police headquarter and a Mexican Consulate, according to local media WFAA.

The gunman reportedly fired more than 100 shots within 10 minutes. He even tried to set ablaze the Mexican Consulate but the fire was quickly extinguished. He had a brief exchange of fire with a police officer and was shot dead.

Police said no injuries were reported in the shooting besides the dead shooter. Police once suspected he might be wearing an explosive vest or hide explosives in his vehicle not far away from the shooting site, but they were cleared later by a bomb squad.

Police later identified the man's residence in Austin and cordoned off the area. They cleared the house without finding anything hazardous.

Police said the timing of the shooting was somewhat "fortunate" because the shooting site, home to many bars and clubs, is usually crowded with revelers but was almost empty Friday morning because people stayed at home for Thanksgiving.

Police have not named a motive for the shooting but disclosed the man had a criminal record.

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."

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