GUILTY CA - Gerardo Hernandez, 39, TSA agent, killed, 3 injured in LAX shooting, 1 Nov 2013

[panthera]

Vernon again:

"Los Angeles chef Vernon Cardenas, who was en route to Philadelphia to audition for the MasterChef TV programme, said the gunman looked at him but didn't shoot.

He described a white man in his 20s with "dirty blonde hair". Mr Cardenas said: "He was dressed in navy blue clothes, he almost looked like an employee of the airport. He was walking around in sort of a daze.""

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/lax-shooter-hated-the-government-2013-11#ixzz2jboRaE6M

Originally from The Telegraph

Mr. Cardenas is more believable than that photo.

Don't we just love some not-so-reputable media sources??
:banghead:

 

[Mrs G Norris]

So you can get an assault weapon into an airport, but I can't wear heels through the security gate. Makes sense.

 

[panthera]

So you can get an assault weapon into an airport, but I can't wear heels through the security gate. Makes sense.

Some serious changes need to be made, in my opinion. That assault weapon should NOT have gotten inside the door. A terminal as large as LAX could have screening areas before getting to the security gate.

MOO

 

[x_files]

Some serious changes need to be made, in my opinion. That assault weapon should NOT have gotten inside the door. A terminal as large as LAX could have screening areas before getting to the security gate.

MOO

If this guy's idea of shooting up an airport would somehow magically make TSA disappear and win our freedom back, his idea backfired. They will have to ramp it up more. He didn't think this through very carefully did he?
crazy!

 

[panthera]

If this guy's idea of shooting up an airport would somehow magically make TSA disappear and win our freedom back, his idea backfired. They will have to ramp it up more. He didn't think this through very carefully did he?
crazy!

He most certainly did not, and instead of dying a martyr to his "cause" he most likely will now spend the rest of his life in a Federal prison. Not exactly what he had planned, is it?

:behindbar

MOO

 

[LinasK]

If this guy's idea of shooting up an airport would somehow magically make TSA disappear and win our freedom back, his idea backfired. They will have to ramp it up more. He didn't think this through very carefully did he?
crazy!

Yup!!! The TSA has my full support! Body scanners and pat downs and such!

 

[LinasK]

He most certainly did not, and instead of dying a martyr to his "cause" he most likely will now spend the rest of his life in a Federal prison. Not exactly what he had planned, is it?

:behindbar

MOO

He may even get the Death Penalty since these are Federal crimes!

 

[panthera]

He may even get the Death Penalty since these are Federal crimes!

True! At least there is satisfaction, however, if convicted, he would be incarcerated in a Federal prison where he will be controlled by the government he obviously (by his "note") very much dislikes.



MOO

 

[lawstudent]

What are earlier checkpoints going to do? You still need officials doing the checkpoints and people lining up at them - a shooter can still walk up outside the terminal and target them. The person at the first checkpoint, wherever it may be, is always at risk of being shot, unless we made the person go through a tunnel that locked them up when the metal detector went off before they made any human contact, but that's not feasible.

 

[LinasK]

What are earlier checkpoints going to do? You still need officials doing the checkpoints and people lining up at them - a shooter can still walk up outside the terminal and target them. The person at the first checkpoint, wherever it may be, is always at risk of being shot, unless we made the person go through a tunnel that locked them up when the metal detector went off before they made any human contact, but that's not feasible.

No, I think the TSA agents should be armed-( and that's saying something because I'm anti-gun, I do NOT believe in arming teachers)- and they should be at the front doors, if not moving up the security checkpoints.

 

[lawstudent]

No, I think the TSA agents should be armed-( and that's saying something because I'm anti-gun, I do NOT believe in arming teachers)- and they should be at the front doors, if not moving up the security checkpoints.

Ok, so ignoring all the practicality issues of arming all TSA agents, could this guy not have walked up and shot several TSA agents at the front doors before they had a chance to pull their weapons? He didn't go to the airport thinking these people would be easy targets - I'm sure he knew he'd be taken down pretty quick by nearby security. It's still easy to kill armed people if you have the element of surprise.

 

[LinasK]

Ok, so ignoring all the practicality issues of arming all TSA agents, could this guy not have walked up and shot several TSA agents at the front doors before they had a chance to pull their weapons? He didn't go to the airport thinking these people would be easy targets - I'm sure he knew he'd be taken down pretty quick by nearby security. It's still easy to kill armed people if you have the element of surprise.

He would have had a lot tougher of a time without being spotted, maybe he could've been stopped outside- he had tons of ammo they reported, so he planned to do alot of damage before he was caught, and he planned suicide-by-cop, only he lived, he is the traitor, and will have the face the consequences...

 

[lawstudent]

He would have had a lot tougher of a time without being spotted, maybe he could've been stopped outside- he had tons of ammo they reported, so he planned to do alot of damage before he was caught, and he planned suicide-by-cop, only he lived, he is the traitor, and will have the face the consequences...

His roommate dropped him off without realizing a thing, though. It's much easier to avoid suspicion when you can get dropped off relatively close to the checkpoint and walk over then it is to walk through the whole airport with people looking out for suspicious bags.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/...shooting-told-police-he-acted-alone-1.6372876

Paul Ciancia, gunman in LAX shooting told police he acted alone
Published: November 4, 2013 6:30 AM
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Snipped:
The letter also talked about "how easy it is to get a gun into the airport," the law enforcement official said.

When searched, the suspect had five 30-round magazines, and his bag contained hundreds more rounds in boxes.

Snipped:
Authorities believe the rifle used in the shooting was purchased in Los Angeles. Ciancia also had two additional handguns that he purchased in Los Angeles, but which weren't at the crime scene, a law enforcement official said. The official, who has been briefed on the investigation, was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

The purchases themselves appeared legal, although authorities were still tracing them, and it's unclear if the shooter used his own identification or someone else's, the official said.

"He didn't buy them on the street. He didn't buy them on the Internet," the official said. "He bought them from a licensed gun dealer — the rifle and the two handguns."

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Re my last post above, if the handguns & rifle were purchased legally in Los Angeles, why are investigators unsure if he used his own identification or not? If they're legal, who is on the purchase linked with the serial number associated with the weapons? This is all digital now, not filed away on a piece of paper in a filing cabinet somewhere, so this confuses me - how can the authorities say they're not certain if he used someone else's id? Doesn't make sense at all, considering they say he's the one that made the specific purchases... Kwim?

 

[FrayedKnot]

Some serious changes need to be made, in my opinion. That assault weapon should NOT have gotten inside the door. A terminal as large as LAX could have screening areas before getting to the security gate.

MOO

Just thinking aloud.....

But wouldn't the friend that dropped him off at the airport have noticed the bulletproof vest and weapon? :waitasec:

 

[Jersey*Girl]

His roommate dropped him off without realizing a thing, though. It's much easier to avoid suspicion when you can get dropped off relatively close to the checkpoint and walk over then it is to walk through the whole airport with people looking out for suspicious bags.

There's some confusion I think bc those not familiar with large airports, or air travel, might not understand that TSA & the scanners aren't where check-in is. When a person walks into an airport (at least every airport I've ever been in), they check-in right away...I usually do online check-in myself bc of the lines. Then the air traveler walks to the scanning area for their terminal, which is where TSA is. They take your documents, including your ticket, to make sure you are who you are, then give them back to you. You take your shoes off (I usually wear flip flops bc it's easier), put your bags & anything metal in containers, put them on the conveyer belt to be scanned, then you walk yourself into the full body scanner. Once you step out, you gather your belongings & proceed to your terminal.

IMO, airports are damned if they do & damed if they don't - where are they supposed to put the scanners? I agree they should be closer to the entrance, but if they're too close then the crowds will be outside on the road...which is another hazard. Plus, if its winter in a cold climate, or raining, etc. Maybe make a secure room before the patrons are able to enter the main areas of the airport? Idk.

Bottom line, IMVHO, is that if somebody wants to commit mass murder - they'll find a way no matter what.

Airports can beef up security & TSA can start arming theirselves - which I believe they should anyway - but even if the govt makes drastic changes, it'll never take away from the crowds of people waiting in these lines. Every single airport I've ever been in never has less than 100 people in line waiting to be scanned.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Just thinking aloud.....

But wouldn't the friend that dropped him off at the airport have noticed the bulletproof vest and weapon? :waitasec:

Not necessarily. That rifle could have been hidden in a duffle bag, gym bag or a large backpack, which alot of people use. The rifle doesn't look like a large one in length.

The vest? I've heard conflicting reports. If he was on a suicide mission, why wear Kevlar? Also, if he really was wearing this, certain ones are thinner than others Paul is very thin, he could wear Kevlar & it wouldn't show I think. Not all bulletproof vests are bulky like they used to be. He was shot 4 times. I thought the injuries to his face were the worst of them, & I can't imagine with all those people in there that security weren't aiming at all for his chest, so the reports of him wearing a vest are probably accurate.

I think some people that were there could have been confused about who the actual gunman was bc several security started running around, some in plain clothes. That could explain the differences in what's being reported about his attire.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Hmmm... FrayedKnot, ya have me thinking...

Here's the clearest picture of the rifle that I've seen so far:

http://bearingarms.com/first-image-emerges-of-lax-shooters-ar-15-rifle-raising-disturbing-questions/

Looks kinda large to me but def could have been broken down & in a duffle or backpack beforehand. In this article, it also says he entered via a secure exit, so I'm thinking maybe the rifle was broken down before entering airport grounds. Then, once he was dropped off, he put it together.

What is the setup at LAX? Would he be able to walk around on the outside and go undetected? Is he familiar with anyone that works in baggage or maintenance? & something else, why did he choose "Virgin" for his entrance &the hangar to start shooting up TSA? Out of all that he could choose from, he chose Virgin?

 

[Jersey*Girl]

FrayedKnot, it was a duffle...

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162...uspect-charged-with-murder-in-deadly-rampage/

CBS/AP/ November 2, 2013, 7:57 PM
Paul Ciancia, LAX shooting suspect, charged with murder in deadly rampage

Snipped:
If convicted, Paul Ciancia could get the death penalty. He was arrested Friday after authorities say he barged into a terminal, pulled an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle from his duffel bag and opened fire. The bullets killed a Transportation Security Administration officer and injuring four others before Ciancia was gunned down by airport police.