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HOUSTON -- A man who scaled halfway up one of Houston's best-known skyscrapers using only a small pick jumped about 30 stories to his death Monday morning, authorities said.

Ryan John Hartley, 20, was about halfway up the 64-story Williams Tower when he leaped about 7:45 a.m., Houston Fire Department spokesman Jay Evans said.

Police recovered a driver's license and a note containing a message of a political nature. Authorities have declined to reveal details of the note, other than to say it did not mention plans to jump.

News2Houston reported that there were three notes discovered on Hartley, which spoke of religion, politics and specific problems with Iraq.

The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a suicide Monday.