Starting around 9:30 this morning, Los Angeles Times and other news organizations began reporting a shooting at the Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 3, involving one known gunman. Early reports [erroneously] indicated the shooter “was a TSA employee and was shot dead by authorities.”
A federal law enforcement official said that the gunman was a ticketed passenger entering the airport. Officials don’t believe the gunman has ever worked for TSA. Law enforcement sources had earlier told The Times the gunman was a TSA employee.
The suspect was injured, and taken into police custody. At least one TSA officer was shot and killed. Multiple additional people were injured, some while in the process of trying to escape the shooting.
The shooting began shortly after 9:20 a.m. at Terminal 3, airport spokeswoman Nancy Suey Castles told CNN. The suspected gunman wore fatigues, and carried a bag containing a handwritten note that he wanted to kill TSA employees and "pigs.” The FBI and LAPD have identified the suspect as Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, a resident of Los Angeles.
For some time, all flights were grounded; hundreds of passengers have been stranded at the airport throughout the day. Live video embedded here. Follow the LA Times' Metro Staff twitter list to see many snapshots of the scene, and video.
LAX Terminal 3 Shooter Scene pic.twitter.com/oOPAKxa6Tv
— Tom Donnelly (@TJD19083) November 1, 2013
Sources telling me: #LAX shooter was #TSA employee and was shot dead by authorities.
— Joel Rubin (@joelrubin) November 1, 2013
Three male victims of #LAX shooting at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. One critical, 2 in fair condition, hospital says.
— Lisa Richwine (@LARichwine) November 1, 2013
@BoingBoing here's a pic from my camera from earlier. Best I can do without an SD reader. pic.twitter.com/sMCuT4UqSu
— Josh Ellingson (@ellingson) November 1, 2013
LAX: “A long gun of some kind” was used in shooting; 17 or more rounds fired. “Loud, sudden; suspect angrily yelling in English.”
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) November 1, 2013
LAX shooting eyewitness describes “3-second bursts, 20 seconds between ‘em, 20 rounds,” suggesting assault rifle or similar weapon.
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) November 1, 2013
LAX Shooter was “yelling in an angry voice,” in English, “shouting in a very angry way while he was shooting,” eyewitness tells @KTLA.
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) November 1, 2013
KTLA: Some stranded LAX passengers’ purses, wallets, computers still at TSA checkpoint, they’re separated, no word on how to collect.
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) November 1, 2013
KTLA: “100s of passengers inside LAX haven’t been told anything about why they’re trapped inside, they’re watching our app to find out why”
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) November 1, 2013
MT from Times LAPD reporter Joel Rubin @joelrubin: Sources telling me: #LAX shooter was #TSA employee and was shot dead by authorities.
— William Nottingham (@LATimesCityGov) November 1, 2013
Witness: More than 1,000 people crowded in an empty terminal after #LAX shooting waiting to hear news. pic.twitter.com/pHB60QNqAz
— Joe Serna, LAT (@JosephSerna) November 1, 2013
A grab bag of law enforcement agencies at #LAX: LAPD, LAFD, ATF, HSI…
— Kate Mather (@katemather) November 1, 2013
Photo from witness: Hundreds gather in empty terminal after #LAX shooting. Buses full of people arrive every 20 min. pic.twitter.com/3bKUFT2bHo
— Joe Serna, LAT (@JosephSerna) November 1, 2013
#LAX gunman is dead, law enforcement sources tell @latimes.
— Richard Winton (@LAcrimes) November 1, 2013
Witnesses describe panic in #LAX Terminal 3. Stampede away from check-in area, crowds rushed onto tarmac to escape. Post tk @LANow
— Joe Serna, LAT (@JosephSerna) November 1, 2013
Witness: "It was like a zoo. People were mad dashing, but there was no where to run." #lax shooting
— Joe Serna, LAT (@JosephSerna) November 1, 2013
Do not try to go to LAX right now. It's blocked off. Streets closed.
— LA Times City Beat (@LATimescitybeat) November 1, 2013
Someone in wheelchair is being escorted out of LAX by armed police. "Wider shot, wider shot," says @KTLA reporter to aerial camera operator
— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) November 1, 2013
Traffic snarled around #LAX as police closing roads. More police cars, ambulances closer to airport.
— Kate Mather (@katemather) November 1, 2013
One TSA officer was killed in the LAX shootings, source tells us. Three or four other TSA workers injured. More soon.
— LA Times City Beat (@LATimescitybeat) November 1, 2013
One TSA officer was killed in the LAX shootings, source tells us. Three or four other TSA workers injured. More soon.
— LA Times City Beat (@LATimescitybeat) November 1, 2013
TSA officer confirmed dead and three or four others injured.Suspect in custody, At this stage no nexis to terror group
— Richard Winton (@LAcrimes) November 1, 2013
People being escorted away from Terminal 2, where shooting occurred at #LAX: pic.twitter.com/9DpwuosUzM
— Kate Mather (@katemather) November 1, 2013
Passengers stranded on ramp to #LAX: pic.twitter.com/7NNx8drQbL
— Kate Mather (@katemather) November 1, 2013
Hundreds of people on sidewalks outside #LAX taking video of media trucks, law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/0KG4W8azgk
— Kate Mather (@katemather) November 1, 2013
Hoping that the injuries at #LAX heal up & people meet new friends. I'm about to ask a stranger for some candy. pic.twitter.com/OBLCR94lGx
— Alie Ward (@alieward) November 1, 2013
Oh PS: yes I am stranded in the terminal at LAX and yes it's weird and quietly scary and everyone is confused & tired.
— Alie Ward (@alieward) November 1, 2013
They're offering us water and milk for families with babies. #laxshooting pic.twitter.com/XDVky0RMwp
— Natalie Morin (@nbmorin) November 1, 2013