Lax Shooting Airport News

A photo of Paul Ciancia, a suspect in the LAX shooting on November 1, 2013

A gunman walked into Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport Friday morning, pulled an assault rifle out of a bag and opened hearth, killing a Transportation Stability Administration officer at a basic safety checkpoint and wounding two other TSA officers, authorities said.

Late Friday evening, the TSA identified the slain officer as Gerardo I. Hernandez, 39, the very first officer killed from the line of duty inside company's 12-yr record. TSA Administrator John Pistole mentioned inside a communication to employees Friday evening that "no phrases can clarify the horror that we experienced right now."

The gunman was wounded inside a shootout with airport police and taken into custody, authorities stated. His situation was not disclosed.

U.S. law enforcement officials confirmed to CBS Reports correspondent Bob Orr that the suspect continues to be identified as Paul Ciancia, 23, of Pennsville, N.J. Officials mentioned he also invested some time in the Los Angeles region.

A preliminary review of administration terror databases and watchlists located no connections to Ciancia, and he does not employ a vital police report, Orr documented.

CBS Reports correspondent John Miller described that in accordance with investigators, Ciancia obtained a gun in his bag. Inside the bag, investigators came up with notes declaring which the TSA have been fascists and pigs, anti-American rantings, anti-TSA rantings and references towards the new entire world obtain, which can be yet another growing conspiracy group that believes the world is going being taken above by forces and black helicopters and so on.

Miller also described that Ciancia on Friday texted his mom and dad from L.A. to New Jersey and stated he was planning to kill himself. They termed the police. There was a reaction to his home. Apparently they didn't make speak to with him but a roommate who did not know wherever he was.

Law enforcement sources instructed CBS Announcement the suspect was wounded from the event but survived and is in custody. Preliminary facts indicated which the suspect may were an off-duty TSA employee, but a federal official told CBS Thing the suspect was not a present or former employee from the agency.

Photo taken by witness of the scene at LAX airport after a shooting in Terminal 3

The officer who was killed was a single with the behavioral detection officers that happen to be stationed throughout the airport, in search of suspicious conduct, said J. David Cox Sr., national president of the American Federation of Federal government Personnel.

Initially, Cox explained at the very least 3 other TSA officers have been wounded. Their circumstances ended up being not disclosed. Later on inside day, the TSA explained two other officers were injured.

The Los Angeles Fireplace Division revised its overall volume of victims used on the hospital from 6 to five, stating one particular had been double counted. People figures included the gunman, the slain TSA officer and one human being who broke their ankle.

Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon stated through the announcement conference that the gunman pulled an assault rifle out of your bag and started to open hearth inside the terminal at 9:20 a.m.

"He proceeded up in to the screening spot, where TSA screeners are, and continued shooting," Gannon said.

The gunman went previous the checkpoint in the secured region of the airport, Gannon mentioned. Airport Police officers tracked the gunman inside of the terminal and ultimately engaged with him. He was successfully used into custody immediately after what Gannon described as an "officer-involved shooting."

"As you can picture, a substantial volume of chaos took place through this entire event," stated Gannon. "We imagine at this level that there was a lone shooter, that he acted, no less than right away, was the one person that was armed with this incident."

Gannon explained police accomplished a safety sweep from the entire airport.

The suspect entered the terminal sporting armed forces-like clothing when he opened fireplace, regulation enforcement sources advised CBS News. Miller noted Friday evening that, based on numerous legislation enforcement sources, Ciancia acquired 5 fully loaded magazines on his individual and that ammo was discovered in a bag nearby. A legislation enforcement supply mentioned "he received plenty of ammo to kill every person in that terminal."

Passenger Billy Bey noticed the gunman. "He was strolling," Bey informed CBS Information, as described by correspondent Carter Evans. "I considered everything was fantastic and maybe this guy was just searching for his gate now. But then I seen he received a gun at his part, a big gun. So at that stage I received pretty scared."

Passenger Robert Perez instructed CBS Los Angeles that TSA officers came through the terminal and yelled that a person received a gun.

"I heard popping and everybody dropped towards the ground," Perez claimed.

As Evans reported, snap shots ended up used moments after police shot the gunman; a person can see his rifle to the flooring. A person who matches the description in the gunman was wheeled into a Los Angeles hospital. External Terminal three or more, paramedics assisted the wounded together with a TSA officer who appeared to become unconscious. Evans additional that a lot of passengers described a moment of disbelief after they first heard the shots. Individuals locked on their own in airline offices. They scrambled for protect beneath airline ticket counters and one particular couple explained they ran for an exit door onto the tarmac and hid below a plane.

Terminal several serves this sort of airlines as Virgin America, AirTran, Spirit Airlines, Horizon Air and JetBlue. Although that terminal remained closed, a lot of your rest of the airport continued working, though with some disruptions. Some LAX-bound flights that ended up definitely within the air have been diverted to other airports.

The ripple effect throughout the nation delayed countless numbers of travelers. Hundreds of stranded passengers streamed into resorts near LAX.

It had been not the initial shooting at LAX. On July four, 2002, a limousine driver opened hearth for the airport's El Al ticket counter, killing an airline employee as well as a human being who was dropping away from a good friend in the terminal. Police killed the person.

Meanwhile, President Obama called the mind of the Transportation Basic safety Administration to express his condolences towards the households and mates with the TSA officer who was shot and killed and the two other officers who have been wounded. The White Property said Obama instructed TSA Administrator John Pistole that he is grateful for every one of the brave TSA personnel who safeguard the nation's transportation programs.

Obama also spoke with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to specific his gratitude for people that responded on the shooting.

The White Household said Obama received briefings in regards to the shooting through the day time.