Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas City man who began shooting at emergency personnel outside his house in February was under suspicion by the FBI for his dislike of government and interest in weapons as early as 1998.

But investigators closed a “preliminary inquiry” of Donin Wright after five months, saying they lacked enough evidence to determine that Wright was a threat, according to records obtained by The Kansas City Star.

The records show that an informant told agents in the FBI’s Cincinnati office that Wright sold guns and drugs and lived in a fortlike home. The information, including a videotape of the inside of Wright’s house and records of his gun purchases, was forwarded to the Kansas City office in 1998.

Jeff Lanza, a spokesman for the FBI in Kansas City, told The Star that the FBI’s investigative options were legally limited during the inquiry. The agency probed accusations of drug trafficking, domestic terrorism and an act of terrorism.

The FBI couldn’t prove claims of drug trafficking, Lanza said, and eventually decided against a more intense investigation. The records show that the source couldn’t provide information connecting Wright to organized groups advocating violence and that his gun collection was not unusual.

Lanza said the FBI handled the case properly.

On Feb. 23, Wright allegedly opened fire on firefighters and ambulances that responded to his south Kansas City home. A paramedic was critically wounded.

Police were called to the scene and, during the gunfight, Wright’s home exploded. His remains and those of his girlfriend, Janet Clark, were later found in the debris.