Police respond to fatal shooting at L.A. airport

Nov 1, 2013

Police respond to fatal shooting at L.A. airport

Kalani Gordon 0 Comment Nation, World Baltimore Sun, California, LAX, lax shooting, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Airport, los angeles international airport, Reuters, shooting

A lone gunman stormed into a packed terminal at the Los Angeles International Airport and opened fire with an assault weapon on Friday, killing a federal security agent before he was shot and captured, authorities said.

: Airline passengers are evacuated to the tarmac in this picture courtesy of Natalie Morin at Los Angeles International Airport November 1, 2013. The Los Angeles International Airport said on Friday that police were responding to an incident at the airport and California media reported that a gunman with a high powered rifle was shot by law enforcement. (Natalie MorinReuters)

: This image released by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), shows an armed LAPD officer is seen patrolling the Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013. (Photo courtesy of LAPD)

: This image released by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), shows an armed LAPD officer is seen patrolling the Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013. (Photo courtesy of LAPD)

: Police escort a man in a wheelchair toward medical help during an incident in which shots were fired at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles in this still image taken from video provided by KNBC November 1, 2013. (KNBC/Reuters)

: Firefighters set up a triage area during an incident in which shots were fired at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles in this still image taken from video provided by KNBC November 1, 2013. Passengers were evacuated from the terminal during the incident. Authorities were responding to a shooting incident with multiple injuries at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, and California media reported that a gunman with a high-powered rifle was shot by law enforcement. (KNBC/Reuters)

: An airport police officer cordons off terminals 2 and 3 after a shooting at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. A suspect in a multiple-victim shooting incident at Los Angeles International Airport has been taken into custody and is the only suspect in the incident, a Los Angeles police spokeswoman said on Friday. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: A plane lands after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. A suspect in a multiple-victim shooting incident at Los Angeles International Airport has been taken into custody and is the only suspect in the incident, a Los Angeles police spokeswoman said on Friday. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: People leave terminal 2 after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. A suspect in a multiple-victim shooting incident at Los Angeles International Airport has been taken into custody and is the only suspect in the incident, a Los Angeles police spokeswoman said on Friday. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: People leave terminal 2 after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. A suspect in a multiple-victim shooting incident at Los Angeles International Airport has been taken into custody and is the only suspect in the incident, a Los Angeles police spokeswoman said on Friday.(Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Evacuated passengers wait on a road after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. Several people were injured in a shooting incident that sparked chaos at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday and authorities said the suspected gunman was in custody. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Evacuated passengers wait on a road after a shooting at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Los Angeles International Airport is seen on November 1, 2013, after a gunman repotedly shot 3 people at a security checkpoint. (Frederick Brown/Getty Images)

: Passengers carry their bags at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013 after a gunman repotedly shot 3 people at a security checkpoint.(Getty Images)

: Passengers carry their bags at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013 after a gunman repotedly shot 3 people at a security checkpoint. (Robyn Beck/Getty Images)

: Passengers carry their bags at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013 after a gunman repotedly shot 3 people at a security checkpoint. (Robyn Beck/Getty Images)

: Firefighters load a person on a stretcher into an ambulance during an incident in which shots were fired at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles November 1, 2013.(KNBC/Reuters)

: Passengers evacuate after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Passengers evacuate after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. Several people were injured in a shooting incident that sparked chaos at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday and authorities said the suspected gunman was in custody. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: A K-9 officer (L) crosses a crime tape line on November 1, 2013 after a gunman reportedly opened fire at a security checkpointin Los Angeles International Airport. (Robyn Beck/Reuters)

: Virgin Atlantic airplanes sit parked after a shooting inside Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport, Friday, November 1, 2013. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

: An airport police officer cordons off terminals 2 and 3 after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Passengers evacuate after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Luggage sit unattended in terminal 3 after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: A bomb squad patrols outside terminal 3 after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Passengers evacuate after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Passengers sit on the curb at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013 after a gunman reportedly opened fire at a security checkpoint. (Robyn Beck/Getty Images)

: An airport police officer walks towards terminal 3 after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Police walk outside terminal 2 after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Delayed passengers sit on a baggage conveyer belt after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Delayed passengers rest on a baggage conveyer belt after a shooting incident at Los Angeles airport (LAX), California November 1, 2013. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Passangers stand on the sidewalk after being evacuated from Terminal 3 and Terminal 2 after a shooting at Los Angeles International Airport November 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The gunfire in Terminal 3 touched off panic and chaos at one of the world’s busiest airports as hundreds of travelers ran frantically for safety or dove for cover behind racks of luggage and loud alarms blared.

A number of people were injured, including two who were shot and wounded and others hurt in the pandemonium. Nearly 750 flights were halted, grounded or diverted as police evacuated passengers and shut down three terminals. Streets around the airport were blocked off for hours, snarling traffic for miles.

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