A man pulled a semi-automatic rifle from a bag and shot his way past a security checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday, killing a federal security officer and injuring two other people in an attack which disrupted flights across the US, authorities said.
A man, identified as Paul Ciancia, 23, from New Jersey, was taken into custody after the incident.
The man was wounded in a shootout with police, said Los Angeles police assistant chief Earl Paysinger.
The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) union official said one of its officers was killed.
The gunman was wearing fatigues and carrying a bag containing a handwritten note which said he “wanted to kill TSA and pigs”, the official said.
Officials told a press conference they saw no further threat to the nation’s third largest airport, which is a major gateway for flights to Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
The TSA issued a statement indicating that at least one other agent was injured.
Los Angeles Airport police chief Patrick Gannon said the gunman entered Terminal 3, pulled an assault rifle from a bag and began shooting, then fired more shots at a screening checkpoint, where a security agent was checking passenger documents, before entering the secure area of the terminal.
Officers exchanged fire with the gunman and apprehended him. Police believe he was the only person involved, Mr Gannon said.
Panicked travellers dropped to the ground. Those who had passed through security fled on to the tarmac or sought cover.
Six people were taken to hospital, the Los Angeles fire department said. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre said it received “three male victims from the shootings. One arrived in critical condition and two are listed in fair condition.”
Terminal 3 is home to Virgin America, AirTran, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, JetBlue, Virgin Australia and other airlines.
Air traffic was affected nationwide. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights that had not yet departed for LAX.