UPDATED: A TSA officer was shot dead and three police officers injured at LAX Airport T3 yesterday before police apprehended the lone gunman.

 

Literally hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and flights bound for LAX were held at departing airports, following the frightening 10-minute ordeal which took place in Terminal 3 just after 09.15am at the world’s sixth busiest airport.

 

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening officer who was murdered has since been identified as Gerardo Hernandez, 39, while the assailant was very courageously confronted close to a Burger King outlet and apprehended by police officers. The killer has since been icharged with murder and dentified as Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, who apparently only relatively recently moved to Los Angeles.

 

According to reports, the gunman approached several individuals in the terminal brandishing an assault rifle asking if they were employees of TSA. A note was later found on his person, which was critical of the government. He also held a valid plane ticket.

 

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has since released no details yet as to the gunman’s motivation, although it would appear that he had some issues with the TSA, although this is, as yet, unconfirmed. He apparently made his way to a security area where the main incident took place, scattering passengers waiting in the lines.

 

Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary, Rand Beers.

 

 

HOMELAND SECURITY STATEMENT

In a statement last night, Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Rand Beers said: “The thoughts and prayers of the entire Department go out to the family of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee who lost their life in the senseless shooting at Los Angeles International Airport earlier today, as well as the additional individuals, including TSA employees, who were injured in the incident.

 

“This act of violence reminds us of the risks the brave men and women of TSA face every day as they work to protect the traveling public.

 

“The Department of Homeland Security, including TSA, will continue to work closely with the FBI, Los Angeles World Airports Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate this heinous crime. As always, our security posture, which at all times includes a number of measures both seen and unseen, will continue to respond appropriately to protect the American people.”

 

The TSA union leader at the American Federation of Government Employees, National President J. David Cox Sr. said: “We are sickened by reports of today’s shooting at the Los Angeles International Airport. Our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to the passengers and Transportation Security Officers killed or injured in this heinous act.”

 

The AFGE represents more than 45,000 TSA officers who screen all commercial airline passengers, baggage and cargo in the US. Cox added: “Thank you to all of our brave TSOs who put their lives on the line every day to keep the flying public safe. AFGE is monitoring the situation along with TSA management.”

 

Unarmed TSA employees might get a lot of criticism from time to time, but they also put themselves at great risk and this is not always appreciated until something like this happens [this image is not directly related to yesterday’s tragic incident]. In the first nine months of 2013 alone, the TSA confiscated more than 1300 guns at airport and other border check points, with 13 seized at LAX alone. The airport handled 63.7m passengers in 2012).

 

OTHER UNSEEN CASUALTIES

Subsequent to yesterday’s incident, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has released a statement revealing that it aided six persons ill or injured as the direct result of the shooting incident, with five taken promptly to area hospitals, while a sixth declined medical care.

 

The LAFD statement reads: “Summoned by airport officials at 9:28 AM on November 1, 2013 to Terminal 3, Fire Department personnel arrived quickly to an active shooter incident, to find the assailant quickly neutralised and scene secured by law enforcement officials.

 

“During the prompt triage, treatment and transport of the five patients, LAFD joined a Unified Command with the Los Angeles Airport Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation, as the airport premises were combed for additional hazards. With none discovered, LAFD transitioned to the role of an ‘assisting agency’, as law enforcement officials continued their active investigation.

 

“In the twelve hours that followed, LAFD strategically deployed more than 125 personnel on a rotating basis to serve the tens of thousands who were isolated within, or refrained, from re-entering the 3,425 acre airport property. Working closely with American Red Cross volunteers, fire fighters distributed water, snacks and information to as many persons as possible.

 

“Throughout the day, LAFD Paramedics medically evaluated an additional 27 persons not involved with the shooting, who suffered illness or minor injury while evacuated from, sheltered within, or waiting to deplane into terminals at the nation’s third busiest airport. Thirteen of those persons were taken to area hospitals by LAFD Ambulance for further evaluation.”