[chris]

Police in Des Moines, Iowa, shot and killed a 38-year-old man who spent roughly 20 minutes firing a rifle and a handgun from his front yard on Dec. 4, 2013, striking houses, cars and a passing motorist before officers returned fire, according to police accounts carried by Iowa news outlets.

Police identified the gunman as Steven Jon Vogel, who lived in a south Des Moines neighborhood on Creston Avenue. Sgt. Jason Halifax told reporters at a news conference that Vogel fired about 100 rounds from a .308-caliber rifle and a handgun, hitting at least seven houses and three vehicles.

Dispatchers began fielding multiple 911 calls that afternoon as neighbors reported shots fired in the area. Some callers said Vogel was firing a rifle from his yard, and one neighbor relayed updates on his location to responding officers.

One motorist, 75-year-old Larry Chiles, was grazed in the head by a bullet as he drove past. Chiles drove himself to a nearby clinic and was then taken by ambulance to a hospital. Police said he was expected to make a full recovery.

Officers Zachary McCarthy and Lt. David Seybert responded to the scene and returned fire after Vogel aimed his weapon at them, police said. He was later found unresponsive in his backyard and died at a Des Moines hospital that night. Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation was complete, police said.

Des Moines Police Chief Judy Bradshaw credited the department's response, noting officers happened to be in the middle of a shift change when the shooting began, which put extra personnel in the area. "I was just awestruck with their courage to move into the area," she said.

Investigators said they could not identify a motive. "We have no motive at this point," Halifax said. Records showed Vogel had prior arrests for criminal mischief, assault, harassment and assault with a weapon stemming from an earlier incident involving a pellet gun, a charge that came with a court order for him to surrender his weapons. His gun permit had since been revoked, and police said they were still trying to determine how he obtained the rifle and handgun. Maj. Steve Waymire, who led the investigation, said nearby schools had dismissed early that day, sparing students from walking home during the gunfire.