Shooting puts airport on high alert
A lone gunman opened fire at the ticket counter of Israel’s El Al airlines at Los Angeles International Airport today, killing one person before being shot dead, police said.
Police said a gunman approached someone at the terminal and opened fire. Byron Tucker, a spokesman for Governor Gray Davis, confirmed that an El Al security guard shot dead the gunman.
No other details about the two dead were immediately available.
A witness, Thad Weimlein, described an initial flurry of fire at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at midday, followed by silence, then more gunfire.
He told CNN he saw plainclothes policemen pulling out their guns and badges at the same time.
At first, ‘‘a lot of people thought it was fireworks and a prank’’, Weimlein told CNN. ‘‘It was probably eight to 10 shots. People were hitting the floor.’’
The shootout happened with security on high alert around the United States for a possible terrorist attack on Independence Day.
FBI agents were at the scene but there was no indication of the shooter’s identity or nationality. There was no initial indication of his motive.
Israel’s El Al is known as one of the most security-conscious airlines in the world.
At least five ambulances were at the airport, where planes continued to land and take off soon after the shooting.
But much of the airport was evacuated.
Traffic was stopped on the road for departing passengers but was moving steadily along the road serving arrivals.
Fire officials deployed a team to check for hazardous materials.
