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Gunman kills one and injures others at LAX airport in Los Angeles | Gunman kills one and injures others at LAX airport in Los Angeles |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A gunman with an apparent grudge against the American Transportation Security Administration opened fire with a high-powered rifle inside Los Angeles international airport on Friday, killing a security agent, injuring at least three other people and causing disruption to flights across the United States. | A gunman with an apparent grudge against the American Transportation Security Administration opened fire with a high-powered rifle inside Los Angeles international airport on Friday, killing a security agent, injuring at least three other people and causing disruption to flights across the United States. |
Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, fired about two dozen shots and caused chaos in Terminal 3 before being shot and captured by airport police. A note in his bag reportedly said he wished to kill TSA employees and "pigs". | Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, fired about two dozen shots and caused chaos in Terminal 3 before being shot and captured by airport police. A note in his bag reportedly said he wished to kill TSA employees and "pigs". |
Wearing dark clothes, he entered the terminal at about 9.20am local time, took a semi-automatic rifle out of a bag and began shooting at the screening area where security agents check passengers' travel documents. | Wearing dark clothes, he entered the terminal at about 9.20am local time, took a semi-automatic rifle out of a bag and began shooting at the screening area where security agents check passengers' travel documents. |
He breached the checkpoint and continued shooting as he entered deeper into the airport, prompting what some called a stampede, until police officers chased and cornered him near a Burger King. | He breached the checkpoint and continued shooting as he entered deeper into the airport, prompting what some called a stampede, until police officers chased and cornered him near a Burger King. |
Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck said the swift response prevented a bloodbath. "Many lives were saved because of the actions of those individuals." | Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck said the swift response prevented a bloodbath. "Many lives were saved because of the actions of those individuals." |
Some 746 flights were affected, causing reroutings and delays across the country. President Barack Obama called the LA mayor, Eric Garcetti, to offer sympathy and federal support. | Some 746 flights were affected, causing reroutings and delays across the country. President Barack Obama called the LA mayor, Eric Garcetti, to offer sympathy and federal support. |
Terminals 1 and 2 were slowly returning to normal Friday evening but Terminal 3 remained closed. "The crime scene is extensive," said David Bowdich, an FBI special agent heading the investigation. | Terminals 1 and 2 were slowly returning to normal Friday evening but Terminal 3 remained closed. "The crime scene is extensive," said David Bowdich, an FBI special agent heading the investigation. |
The man who died was identified as Gerardo Hernandez, 39, the Associated Press reported. He was an employee with the TSA, which administers security checkpoints at US airports. He suffered stomach and chest wounds. Three other people were wounded by gunfire, including at least one TSA employee. Another three people were taken to hospital for injuries sustained while fleeing the mayhem. | |
Ciancia's condition was not immediately known but he reportedly had multiple gunshot wounds. | Ciancia's condition was not immediately known but he reportedly had multiple gunshot wounds. |
A native of Pennsville, New Jersey, he was resident in Los Angeles. Pennsville police chief Allen Cummings said that according to Ciancia's father, the owner of an auto body shop, the gunman sent a text to a sibling "in reference to him taking his own life" before the attack. Cummings said the Ciancias were a "good family" and that the gunman had no criminal record in New Jersey. | A native of Pennsville, New Jersey, he was resident in Los Angeles. Pennsville police chief Allen Cummings said that according to Ciancia's father, the owner of an auto body shop, the gunman sent a text to a sibling "in reference to him taking his own life" before the attack. Cummings said the Ciancias were a "good family" and that the gunman had no criminal record in New Jersey. |
Airports around California were put under heightened alert and the White House was briefed. Paramedics set up a medical triage area outside the terminal. The Federal Aviation Administration halted all flights to LAX that were not already in the air. | Airports around California were put under heightened alert and the White House was briefed. Paramedics set up a medical triage area outside the terminal. The Federal Aviation Administration halted all flights to LAX that were not already in the air. |
Brian Adamick, 43, was at Terminal 3 preparing to board a Spirit Airlines flight to Chicago when people started running through the area. Adamick told reporters he went through an emergency exit, down stairs and out on to the tarmac, with several other passengers. | Brian Adamick, 43, was at Terminal 3 preparing to board a Spirit Airlines flight to Chicago when people started running through the area. Adamick told reporters he went through an emergency exit, down stairs and out on to the tarmac, with several other passengers. |
"While I was on the tarmac, I heard two gunshots from the same area where the people had been running and screaming," he said. Minutes later buses evacuated passengers and a TSA agent with a bloodied ankle who appeared remarkably calm, saying "I got shot, I'm fine", according to Adamick. | "While I was on the tarmac, I heard two gunshots from the same area where the people had been running and screaming," he said. Minutes later buses evacuated passengers and a TSA agent with a bloodied ankle who appeared remarkably calm, saying "I got shot, I'm fine", according to Adamick. |
The agent told passengers not to worry about him and that he had been shot before, Adamick said. "It looked like it was straight out of the movies," he added. | The agent told passengers not to worry about him and that he had been shot before, Adamick said. "It looked like it was straight out of the movies," he added. |
A reporter for NBC4 News said he saw two injured people leave the terminal. One was in a wheelchair, while another walked out accompanied by emergency personnel, the reporter said. | A reporter for NBC4 News said he saw two injured people leave the terminal. One was in a wheelchair, while another walked out accompanied by emergency personnel, the reporter said. |
Bill Reiter, a reporter for Fox Sports, said gunfire in the terminal had prompted a "stampede". He said on Twitter, at 9.30am local time: "I was at the Virgin terminal at LAX when gunfire broke out. Many of us have run on the tarmac. I don't know what's happening but I'm fine." | Bill Reiter, a reporter for Fox Sports, said gunfire in the terminal had prompted a "stampede". He said on Twitter, at 9.30am local time: "I was at the Virgin terminal at LAX when gunfire broke out. Many of us have run on the tarmac. I don't know what's happening but I'm fine." |
He added: "When gunfire broke out there was a stampede of people, all of us hiding under seats we didn't fit under, we burst through the door to outside. After the initial burst of gunfire and hiding, people started jumping over one another, jumping off chairs, pushing each other. Chaos & fear." | He added: "When gunfire broke out there was a stampede of people, all of us hiding under seats we didn't fit under, we burst through the door to outside. After the initial burst of gunfire and hiding, people started jumping over one another, jumping off chairs, pushing each other. Chaos & fear." |
Another passenger told CBS of surreal moments as police surrounded the gunman: "Some people were running for their lives, others remained calm." | Another passenger told CBS of surreal moments as police surrounded the gunman: "Some people were running for their lives, others remained calm." |
The actor James Franco arrived at LAX as the incident was unfolding. "Some s** tbag shot up the place," he tweeted. | The actor James Franco arrived at LAX as the incident was unfolding. "Some s** tbag shot up the place," he tweeted. |
At #lax | At #lax |
Some s** tbag shot up the place. http://t.co/4fM43spfh7 | Some s** tbag shot up the place. http://t.co/4fM43spfh7 |
His publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that Franco was a passenger on a flight that landed Friday morning after the shooting occurred. | His publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that Franco was a passenger on a flight that landed Friday morning after the shooting occurred. |
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