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

[Jersey*Girl]

Ok, found this - gives an overall view of the layout of Teriminal 3 at LAX...

http://www.lawa.org/uploadedFiles/LAX/pdf/T3.pdf

 

[Jersey*Girl]

God help me but it looks to me that he picked a discounted airlines terminal. They're all airlines nationally known, I know that, but they're not very luxurious. Please - nobody throw rocks...just stating an opinion. IMO, discounted airlines use older planes alot, which means alot more maintenance & no frills flying.

So is there a reason Paul chose this terminal? When he'd come home to PV for a visit, did he fly into Wilmington, Atlantic City, BWI or Philly? I'm asking bc we always fly out of Philly even though Wilmington is only 15 minutes away. I'd never fly out of there... Philly seems much more secure with better planes, security, etc. BWI is ok but congested. Maybe I just like Philly bc it's what I'm used to, idk. However, looking at the terminal he chose, I can't help but wonder why that terminal. Was there a specific airline he flew? When he came home over the summer, did he fly into Wilm or Philly, or somewhere else?

Side note... I think the only commercial flights that run out of Wilmington (New Castle Airport, again only 10-15 minutes over the bridge from his home) are Frontier Airlines. Frontier happens to be one of those that I'll never fly. They also happen to be on Terminal 3 at LAX. Probably means nothing but hey thought I'd note it...

 

[x_files]

Things that do NOT make sense:
If you want to murder a TSA agent then suicide by cops, why wear a bulletproof vest?

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Things that do NOT make sense:
If you want to murder a TSA agent then suicide by cops, why wear a bulletproof vest?

Exactly my point. So are the authorities saying he had Kevlar on or is this coming from witnesses? If its coming from witnesses, it makes me think maybe they had him confused with security running around, maybe security / police in plain clothes.

Something else... If he really did have on Kevlar, could it be bc he wanted to at least achieve one kill before he himself was killed?

I'm anticipating his data. Curious to see what info his hard drive brings to light.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Could he have flown one of those airlines coming home last summer? Maybe he didn't like the check? I know I had a piece of lint or my long hair pinpoint a place that needed to be checked in my full body scan last January, so I had to get a thorough pat down. It was embarrassing in front of everyone but hey at least I felt safe. It made me appreciate security tbh.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

LAX suspect remains heavily sedated, under guard

TAMI ABDOLLAH, AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The man accused of opening fire at Los Angeles International Airport, shooting employees and terrorizing travelers, accomplished two of his goals, according to authorities: kill a Transportation Security Administration officer and show how easy it is to get a gun into an airport.

The deadly rampage left investigators to piece together what motivated Paul Ciancia's hatred toward the agency formed to make air travel safer after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, but could ultimately lead to changes in the way airports are patrolled.

Ciancia was shot four times by airport police, including in the mouth, and remains heavily sedated and under 24-hour armed guard at the hospital, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Sunday. The official was not authorized to speak publicly on the case and requested anonymity...

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20131104/US-LAX-Shooting/

 

[i.b.nora]

Make what you will from this report from KABC, New York Post, TMX, CNN:

http://www.wafb.com/story/23868628/lax-gunmans-acquaintance-speaks

LAX gunman's acquaintance speaks
Posted: Nov 04, 2013 6:46 AM PST
Updated: Nov 04, 2013 7:09 AM PST

LOS ANGELES (KABC/NEW YORK POST/TMZ/CNN) - Days before Paul Ciancia's murderous rampage at Los Angeles International Airport, a woman who knows the alleged gunman and his three roommates says Ciancia was already plotting his crime.

Be sure to watch the video

 

[i.b.nora]

Keeping in mind that CBS's John Miller got many details of his reports on Sandy Hook and the Boston Bombing flat out wrong, here is his report on LAX shooting:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57610645/how-lax-shooter-concealed-his-weapon/

November 4, 2013 9:31 AM

The LAX shootings, as they happened
By John Miller

"(CBS) LAX shooting suspect in Friday's rampage, Paul Ciancia, arrived at the airport driven by a friend in a Black Hyundai. Ciancia walked into the departure level of terminal 3, looking like any other passenger, pulling a "roller board" suitcase with a backpack riding on top of it. The rolling suitcase and the backpack had been carefully modified. A hole in the top of the suitcase and the bottom of the backpack so that the assault weapon could stand up inside the two bags.

Law enforcement sources say Ciancia then pulled the backpack off the top, lifted the .223-caliber assault rifle up through the hole in the suitcase and shot TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez."

Much much more with video...

 

[i.b.nora]

The Official Associated Press article from yesterday. This is who most others get their news from:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=9311874

California News
LAX shooting suspect under 24-hour armed guard at hospital
Sunday, November 03, 2013

"LOS ANGELES -- The gunman charged in the deadly shooting at Los Angeles International Airport lay bloodied and handcuffed on the floor of Terminal 3 after being gunned down by police, but he replied to critical questions that helped authorities lock down the scene.

Paul Ciancia, 23, was hauled away moments later on a stretcher and later heavily sedated for medical reasons, but not before he told investigators he had acted alone when he opened fire in the terminal, a law enforcement official who has been briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press on Sunday."

*

"The FBI has served a search warrant on a Sun Valley residence where Ciancia lived, Ari Dekofsky, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said Sunday. Agents are still interviewing people, she said.

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.""

Much more... with ABC7 News video report

 

[Sonya610]

Make what you will from this report from KABC, New York Post, TMX, CNN:

http://www.wafb.com/story/23868628/lax-gunmans-acquaintance-speaks

From your article...

CNN has confirmed a picture making the rounds online is legitimate - Ciancia was shot at least twice, his face and neck hit. He's wearing chinos and a polo shirt. No ballistic vest, no special clothing. He looked like any other traveler.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Thank you! So no Kevlar.

This stuff kills me... Kinda crazy how certain media don't check their facts before reporting.

 

[lawstudent]

I don't understand why people are confused he could walk around outside - all airports are able to be driven up to so that people can be dropped off/picked up. Or at least every one I've gone to is like that. Tons of people are walking around the building waiting for people, and there are tons of vehicles. Cops as well. The gun was in a bag so not immediately suspicious. You can't screen everybody who is approaching the airport - all the taxi drivers, shuttle buses, etc. - it would be madness. You can easily mull around in crowd there - yeah if you keep pacing weirdly with a duffle bag, a cop may get suspicious, but it's quite easy to just walk in. And then to go to the first TSA checkpoint, because you can say you just did electronic check in - they're not going to know.

 

[i.b.nora]

Airport security will be reviewed after LAX shooting: Holder
By Pete Williams and Tracy Connor, NBC News

"Security at the nation's airports will be reviewed in the wake of last week's deadly ambush of Transportation Security Administration officers at Los Angeles International Airport, Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday.

"The function of TSA is to ensure that people can board planes safely, take flights safely," Holder said at a news conference in response to a question about Friday's rampage.

"The responsibility for protecting airports' security is not a TSA function, but it's something that we need to examine given what happened in Los Angeles," he said."

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...ty-will-be-reviewed-after-lax-shooting-holder

 

[i.b.nora]

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/nati...Suspected-LAX-Gunman-May-Speak-230526231.html

The family of suspected LAX gunman Paul Ciancia may make a statement today, according to Pennsville Police. This would mark the first time Ciancia's family members spoke out about Friday's deadly shooting at Los Angeles International Airport.

A news conference is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET outside the police department. NBC10.com will live stream this news conference.

 

[FrayedKnot]

I know there was certainly not much that occurred during GWB's tenure with which I agreed, but increased security not just at airports, but across the board, was one of them. I actually applauded the Bush administration and the Dept of HS.

I'm awfully liberal, but after 9/11 I was actually glad for the extra safeguards, even if it was not as convenient as before. And as for invading my privacy, meh. If the feds want to be bored to death, listen away. The world wasn't the same place anymore, and incidents like this one prove it.

All this to say, the safety of our citizens is not/should not be a political issue. If I have to be inconvenienced so that society as a whole can be safer, then okey dokey.

The other thing that has been bugging me is that this man, who is obviously not rational, was influenced by some of the vitriolic propaganda that is just rampant, especially on the internet. Obviously there isn't a way to preemptively figure out who is unstable and filter out what they hear and read, but it still makes me hopping mad that these wings nuts spew their trash and incite folks who are easily influenced.

That's all. Just sad.

 

[FrayedKnot]

I don't understand why people are confused he could walk around outside - all airports are able to be driven up to so that people can be dropped off/picked up. Or at least every one I've gone to is like that. Tons of people are walking around the building waiting for people, and there are tons of vehicles. Cops as well. The gun was in a bag so not immediately suspicious. You can't screen everybody who is approaching the airport - all the taxi drivers, shuttle buses, etc. - it would be madness. You can easily mull around in crowd there - yeah if you keep pacing weirdly with a duffle bag, a cop may get suspicious, but it's quite easy to just walk in. And then to go to the first TSA checkpoint, because you can say you just did electronic check in - they're not going to know.

Because initial reports were that he was carrying a gun and wearing kevlar. In which case that ought to have raised an alarm by security stationed in the drop off zone.

Since then, reports have stated that he was not wearing a vest and that the gun was cleverly hidden in a stacked suitcase/backpack combo.

And I agree that there is no way to screen everyone approaching crowded public venues. Which is why guns freak me out.

 

[x_files]

Airport security will be reviewed after LAX shooting: Holder
By Pete Williams and Tracy Connor, NBC News

"Security at the nation's airports will be reviewed in the wake of last week's deadly ambush of Transportation Security Administration officers at Los Angeles International Airport, Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday.

"The function of TSA is to ensure that people can board planes safely, take flights safely," Holder said at a news conference in response to a question about Friday's rampage.

"The responsibility for protecting airports' security is not a TSA function, but it's something that we need to examine given what happened in Los Angeles," he said."

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...ty-will-be-reviewed-after-lax-shooting-holder

His actions will force LAX and other airports to have more armed guards not less, the exact opposite of his manifesto. He didn't think this through all the way did he?

 

[Sonya610]

His actions will force LAX and other airports to have more armed guards not less, the exact opposite of his manifesto. He didn't think this through all the way did he?

Did he specifically complain about ARMED guards? Many people hate the TSA but it isn't because of armed guards, it is because of their often rude attitude and the utterly ridiculous and hypocritical rules that seem to target native American citizens while often softening the rules dramatically for foreign born individuals.

 

[x_files]

Did he specifically complain about ARMED guards? Many people hate the TSA but it isn't because of armed guards, it is because of their often rude attitude and the utterly ridiculous and hypocritical rules.

His manifesto mentions freedom from TSA and. I assume he doesn't like having his rights eroded, if he is even sane and knows what he wrote. To be honest most people aren't thrilled with TSA, and some officers have overstepped their boundaries and should face criminal prosecution.
I for one am not thrilled by loosing my rights nor do I want to be shot by a madman or have my plane hijacked either.

 

[LinasK]

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.

I think they should put them near where the baggage check-in is. People don't stand outside in the cold for that, and it's much closer to the front door. Actually the crowds have gotten much smaller for baggage check-in because many people don't want to pay the baggage fees, so they put all their gear into carry on luggage.