Police: LAX Shooting Suspect Returned to Victim and Shot Him Again
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(LOS ANGELES) — Authorities say the suspect in last Friday’s shooting at Los Angeles International Airport returned to one of his victims after he saw him moving and shot him again.
In a federal complaint filed Saturday night against Paul Ciancia, the alleged shooter in Friday’s incident that left one dead and several more injured, investigators say Ciancia shot TSA employee Gerardo Hernandez at point-blank range and then preceded up an escalator. According to the complaint, when Ciancia looked back and saw Hernandez moving, he walked back towards the wounded man and shot him again. The victim died.
Two other uniformed officers were shot and one civilian suffered gunshot wounds, according to the federal complaint.
The civilian has been identified as high school teacher Brian Ludner. Las Virgenes School Superintendent Dan Stepenosky says Ludner was shot in the lower part of his right leg, shattering the bones. He’s scheduled for surgery Monday.
Ciancia allegedly had a Smith and Wesson .223 caliber M&P-15 assault rifle with him during the shooting.
The complaint also provided more information regarding the note that Ciancia reportedly left behind. In the note, Ciancia said he “made the conscious decision to try and kill” TSA employees.
Ciancia’s note apparently went on to address TSA employees, saying that he was aiming to “instill fear in your traitorous minds.”
Ciancia was shot four times by police and remains hospitalized and unresponsive after a gunshot wound to the face. He has been charged with murder.
The shooting began around 9:20 a.m. PST on Friday at LAX’s usually crowded Terminal 3, and sent hundreds of passengers streaming out of the terminal, with many fleeing onto the airport runway.
A source briefed on the case tells ABC News that Ciancia was dropped off at LAX by a roommate who did not know what was about to unfold. According to the source, Ciancia had told the roommate he needed a ride to the airport to catch a flight. The roommate is one of three who have been questioned by investigators. None of the roommates were aware of Ciancia’s intentions.
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