The terrifying moment when police began evacuating Los Angeles International Airport has been captured on video and shows the panic that police and passengers felt after hearing a string of gunshots.
The shooter, who has now been identified as Paul Anthony Ciancia, was apprehended by police after being shot multiple times. Ciancia shot dead one TSA agent and also injuring five others including fellow agents.
The gunman has been pictured and is seen handcuffed to a gurney being escorted out of the airport. He is a resident of Los Angeles but was raised in Pennsville, New Jersey.
Ciancia was carrying a high-powered assault rifle as he stalked through Terminal 3 of the international airport, terrifying passengers and causing the surrounding buildings to be evacuated.
Initial reports say that Ciancia had ‘anti-government’ leanings and was reportedly carrying a note which said that he ‘wanted to kill TSA and pigs’.
The gunman, who was dressed in fatigues and carrying multiple clips of ammunition, was believed to be acting alone. One witness said that the shooter walked up to him and simply asked: ‘TSA?’
Airport police chief Patrick Gannon said the shooter came into Terminal 3 around 9.20am, pulled an assault rifle from a bag and opened fire in the LA terminal. He proceeded up to the screening area, shot his way past screeners and into the airport, making it as far as a Burger King restaurant.
Police fired at the shooter, wounding him before taking him into police custody. The gunman was one of six people taken to hospital.
The one fatality has been identified as Gerardo I. Hernandez, a 39-year-old father-of-two who had been working at Los Angeles airport for the past three years.
Victim: Gerardo Hernandez, 39, was the one person who was shot dead in the Friday attack as doctors said that he did not have a pulse by the time he arrived at the hospital
Friends and family have begun paying their respects to the slain public servant, saying that he was a loving husband and caring father who enjoyed spending his free time with his children.
The shooting makes Hernandez the first TSA agent shot and killed in the line of duty. One of his colleagues- whose name has not been released- was also shot in the Friday rampage but that individual is expected to make a full recovery.
City officials have ordered several tributes be paid to Hernandez across Los Angeles, as the flags at all government-owned buildings in the area will be flown at half mast.
Read more: dailymail.co.uk
