By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-919013.mp3
Dallas, TX – McKinney Police believe 29 year old Patrick Sharp acted alone when he parked his truck and a trailer with a homemade "fertilizer" bomb in front of the McKinney Public Safety Building yesterday morning - then started shooting at the building and officers. KERA's BJ Austin says Sharp died after firing more than 100 rounds from an assault rifle.
McKinney Police Chief Doug Kowalski says it happened so fast.
Kowalski: It unfolded in less than five minutes, from start to finish. It was a very rapid incident.
It began when Patrick Sharp set his truck on fire. Ammunition inside started going off, and that drew officers outside. The ammonium nitrate, flares and woodchips doused with gasoline in the trailer did NOT go off. Sharp fired round after round at officers and police headquarters. Chief Kowalski says 23 windows were shot out, but no one was hit. Sharp was the only victim.
Kowalski: One of our witnesses indicates that the suspect did inflict a self inflicted gunshot wound. We're going to have to wait for the coroner's autopsy results. I really think this was a clear cut case of suicide by cop. He got out in a position where he was actively engaging not just any building, it was the entire police department of the city.
Collin College, across from the police building was locked down, and campus officers also came under fire. The Chief says Sharp had no criminal record, as far as they can determine, and had no apparent beef with McKinney police or the college.
The Chief says a search of Sharp's home near Anna turned up a cache of weapons, but no clues as to motive. State Troopers and the FBI are among agencies assisting the investigation. Chief Kowalski says they're working to determine if anyone else was involved, and answer the question WHY.
Kowalski: This doesn't make any sense to any of us. The act is completely senseless that we know of. We want to see what his motivation is for targeting this city, the public safety building and members of the campus.