Man shot at US airport has died
A machete-wielding man who was shot during a bizarre rampage at New Orleans’ international airport has died.
The death of Richard White was announced shortly after authorities revealed that he had also been carrying a bag of Molotov cocktails when the trouble began.
The 63-year-old was shot on Friday night as he chased an unarmed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent through a concourse full of frightened travellers – and in the direction of a sheriff’s deputy, who drew her gun and fired three times.
He died at 4.02pm local time the following day.
Sheriff Newell Normand said investigators discovered after the shooting that White had been carrying a bag loaded with Molotov cocktails – six Mason jars with cloth wicks soaked in gasoline.
“Fortunately, he didn’t seriously injure anybody,” he said.
The sheriff said White had a history of mental health problems but investigators were trying to determine the nature and extent of those problems. His family has been co-operating with the investigation.
White was a Jehovah’s Witness and had refused “certain types of medical care,” Mr Normand said.
Authorities also found smoke bombs and tanks of acetylene, Freon and oxygen in the trunk of his car, the sheriff said.
He said White is believed to be a former taxi driver, but investigations into his background are ongoing.
Mr Normand said White sprayed the unarmed TSA agents and several passengers queueing at the checkpoint with wasp killer.
He then drew a large machete from the waistband of his trousers. A male TSA agent blocked the machete with a piece of luggage as White ran through a metal detector.
White chased a female TSA agent while swinging the machete when he was shot three times by a female officer, Mr Normand said.
New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu said a review of security procedures will follow, adding that it is standard after any emergency.
