Police ID gunman, victim he shot in Austin hotel lobby

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Police ID gunman, victim he shot in Austin hotel lobby
Updated 11:49 pm, Monday, July 6, 2015

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Austin police have released the identity of a gunman killed by an officer in a posh downtown hotel after the man fatally shot another person in the lobby.

A police statement issued Monday says officers shot and killed 35-year-old Michael Holt at the Omni Austin Hotel after Holt pointed a gun at the officers early Sunday. Holt was suspected of opening fire in the lobby, killing 60-year-old taxicab driver and innocent bystander Conrado Guadalupe Contreras moments before.

The Capital Factory, a startup incubator, is situated in the same building as the hotel and said Holt rented a desk in its suite. Officials with Capitol Factory said they had no information suggesting the incident had to do with Holt's work there.

KVUE-TV reports Holt's father says his family is grieving for those affected by the shooting.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Police-ID-gunman-victim-he-shot-in-Austin-hotel-6369646.php

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[Judi Lynn]

1. Victim, gunman identified in Downtown Austin Omni shooting

Victim, gunman identified in Downtown Austin Omni shooting
By Calily Bien and Eric Janzen
Published: July 6, 2015, 12:10 pm | Updated: July 6, 2015, 10:28 pm

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police said the innocent bystander killed by a gunman over the weekend at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown was 60-year-old Conrado Guadalupe Contreras. Yellow Cab President Ed Kargbo said Contreras was a “beloved” driver for their company.

“The entire Yellow Cab family is mourning for one of our most devoted and caring drivers,” Kargbo said in a statement. “We are heartbroken over the loss of our friend Conrad, a man who went out of his way to help and serve others.”

Contreras was an Army veteran and worked as a taxi driver in Austin for 15 years.

“Conrad’s family and friends, including everyone at Yellow Cab Austin, will miss him deeply,” Kargbo continued. “We so appreciate Conrad’s devotion to those around him in Austin, his kindness, and his commitment to doing the right thing.”

More:
http://kxan.com/2015/07/06/gunman-identified-in-downtown-austin-omni-shooting/

[marble falls]

2. Strange assed story, for sure. Slow developing.

[herding cats]

3. Turns out the guy was running for president

Omni Hotel shooter Michael Holt had filed to run for U.S. president

Michael McGregor Holt, the gunman in the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown shooting that killed one man and resulted in his death, had filed for candidacy in the 2016 presidential race.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Holt, 35, filed a statement for candidacy in the 2016 election on June 9.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/omni-hotel-shooter-michael-holt-had-filed-to-run-f/nmskR/

Which wasn't his first venture into politics.

Travis County records also show a Michael M. Holt—with the same addresses as the man identified as the shooter—also ran for office at least twice in Travis County as a libertarian. In 2014, Holt ran for Travis County Clerk, receiving more than 19 percent of the vote. He lost that race to Dana DeBeauvoir, a democrat. In 2012, Holt ran for Travis County Constable for Precinct 5. Holt got about 20 percent of the vote in that race, losing to democrat Carlos Lopez.
http://kxan.com/2015/07/07/omni-hotel-shooter-filed-paperwork-to-run-for-u-s-president/

Looks like he was a Texas Libertarian according to the above article.

The Libertarian Party of Texas could not confirm the Michael Holt who ran for the county offices is the same Holt as the shooter, but party members are continuing to research the issue.

“The Libertarian Party of Texas deeply regrets the shooting incident in Austin the weekend of July 4th. While we wait for the facts to emerge about the incident, our hearts go out to all the victims and their loved ones,” said Kurt Hildebrand State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Texas. “The Libertarian Party is founded on a philosophy of non-aggression, which means that we oppose the initiation of force in all circumstances. The use of force, fraud, or coercion except in cases of self-defense is illegitimate, and we do not condone any such criminal violence by a citizen, or excessive force by the police.”

[Judi Lynn]

4. Thanks for the info. on his political background! n/t