A passenger embraces a TSA screener at Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 3 after it was reopened on Saturday, November 2. The day before, a gunman opened fire in the terminal, killing a TSA officer. Four other people are recovering from injuries in the shooting.A passenger embraces a TSA screener at Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 3 after it was reopened on Saturday, November 2. The day before, a gunman opened fire in the terminal, killing a TSA officer. Four other people are recovering from injuries in the shooting.

Transportation Security Administration officer Gerardo Hernandez, 39, died of his wounds in the shooting in LAX Terminal 3 on Friday, November 1.Transportation Security Administration officer Gerardo Hernandez, 39, died of his wounds in the shooting in LAX Terminal 3 on Friday, November 1.

TSA Administrator John S. Pistole, left, and Ana Hernandez, wife of slain TSA officer Gerardo Hernandez, prepare for a news conference in Porter Ranch, California on November 2. The slain officer "was a wonderful husband, father, brother, son and friend," his widow said.TSA Administrator John S. Pistole, left, and Ana Hernandez, wife of slain TSA officer Gerardo Hernandez, prepare for a news conference in Porter Ranch, California on November 2. The slain officer "was a wonderful husband, father, brother, son and friend," his widow said.

Injured traveler Bruce Reith, from Munich, Germany, is helped by two Los Angeles Airport Police officers as he makes his way on crutches to Terminal 3 for departure a day after injuring himself while escaping the shooting.Injured traveler Bruce Reith, from Munich, Germany, is helped by two Los Angeles Airport Police officers as he makes his way on crutches to Terminal 3 for departure a day after injuring himself while escaping the shooting.

Workers tear down a temporary partition after Terminal 3 was reopened on November 2, a day after a shooting at LAX.Workers tear down a temporary partition after Terminal 3 was reopened on November 2, a day after a shooting at LAX.

A Los Angeles Airport Police officer stands in front of Terminal 3 security screeners after law enforcement officials completed their investigation and prepare to reopen the terminal at LAX on November 2.A Los Angeles Airport Police officer stands in front of Terminal 3 security screeners after law enforcement officials completed their investigation and prepare to reopen the terminal at LAX on November 2.

Police officers and emergency response officials meet outside Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport after <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/01/us/lax-gunfire/index.html'>gunshots were reported</a> inside the terminal on November 1.Police officers and emergency response officials meet outside Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport after gunshots were reported inside the terminal on November 1.

Transportation Security Administration employees hug outside Terminal 1.Transportation Security Administration employees hug outside Terminal 1.

This photo, from Terminal 3, shows what appears to be a weapon on the ground. Police said a man "pulled an assault rifle out of a bag and began to open fire" Friday, killing one person and injuring others before being shot and taken into custody.This photo, from Terminal 3, shows what appears to be a weapon on the ground. Police said a man "pulled an assault rifle out of a bag and began to open fire" Friday, killing one person and injuring others before being shot and taken into custody.

Law enforcement officers gather in Terminal 3 near the scene of the shooting.Law enforcement officers gather in Terminal 3 near the scene of the shooting.

Passengers sit on a luggage conveyor belt behind check-in kiosks in Terminal 1.Passengers sit on a luggage conveyor belt behind check-in kiosks in Terminal 1.

Police check the area around Terminal 1. Police check the area around Terminal 1.

Passengers evacuate the airport after the incident, which airport officials said began about 9:30 a.m. The gunfire and the airport's announcement of the incident provoked chaos among travelers, passengers said.Passengers evacuate the airport after the incident, which airport officials said began about 9:30 a.m. The gunfire and the airport's announcement of the incident provoked chaos among travelers, passengers said.

People hide inside a bathroom stall at the airport after the gunshots were reported.People hide inside a bathroom stall at the airport after the gunshots were reported.

Thousands of travelers were delayed after the incident closed the airport for hours.Thousands of travelers were delayed after the incident closed the airport for hours.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck talks with other responders at the airport Friday.Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck talks with other responders at the airport Friday.

A police officer closes a road at the airport. The area around the airport was jammed with cars Friday morning as police shut down access.A police officer closes a road at the airport. The area around the airport was jammed with cars Friday morning as police shut down access.

Police officers stand guard atop Terminal 3.Police officers stand guard atop Terminal 3.

Passengers are directed outside Terminal 2.Passengers are directed outside Terminal 2.

A family walks through a tunnel as they leave the airport. A family walks through a tunnel as they leave the airport.

Passengers evacuated from Terminal 1 wait outside the airport. Passengers evacuated from Terminal 1 wait outside the airport.

"People were running and people (were) getting knocked down. There was luggage everywhere," traveler Alex Neumann said. "Mayhem is the best I can describe it.""People were running and people (were) getting knocked down. There was luggage everywhere," traveler Alex Neumann said. "Mayhem is the best I can describe it."

People wait in a terminal after flights were grounded because of the incident.People wait in a terminal after flights were grounded because of the incident.

Passengers wait on the curb after leaving the airport.Passengers wait on the curb after leaving the airport.

A police officer directs traffic.A police officer directs traffic.

The gunfire reports led to a "ground stop" for arriving planes, said police and the Federal Aviation Administration.The gunfire reports led to a "ground stop" for arriving planes, said police and the Federal Aviation Administration.

A police officer diverts traffic trying to enter the airport.A police officer diverts traffic trying to enter the airport.

First responders and emergency vehicles arrive at the airport.First responders and emergency vehicles arrive at the airport.








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  • The gunman wrote that he wanted to "instill fear" in TSA employees, an FBI official says

  • FBI: Five people were shot, including three TSA officers

  • The suspect is "unresponsive" and hasn't answered questions




Los Angeles (CNN) -- A true explanation on why a gunman unleashed terror at Los Angeles International Airport may lie in the hospital bed of Paul Ciancia. But no secrets are coming out.


The man authorities believe killed a TSA agent and shot three others Friday was "unresponsive" after airport police shot him to end the carnage, FBI Special Agent in Charge David Bowdich said Saturday.


But even in Ciancia's silence, more details are trickling out about what happened at the bustling airport Friday.


Ciancia walked up to a security checkpoint, fatally shot a TSA officer "at point-blank range," went up an escalator and then came back down to shoot his victim again with an assault rifle, a federal prosecutor said.


That TSA officer, Gerardo Hernandez, later died.


The gunman then continued through the terminal, striking two other uniformed TSA officers and a passenger with bullets before he was shot by airport police, U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said.


Ciancia is now charged with two felony offenses -- murder of a federal officer and commission of violence in an international airport.


If convicted, Ciancia could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole, the prosecutor said. The U.S. attorney general would decide whether to pursue a death sentence.


'Conscious decision to kill ... TSA employees'


The gunman left behind five magazines of ammunition that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said "could have literally killed everyone in that terminal."


He also had a note that apparently referred to the New World Order and anti-government claims, a federal law enforcement official said.


It's not clear what gave rise to the references, and federal investigators have found no known links to known groups or anything in the suspect's background to explain them. The New World Order is generally considered to be a conspiracy theory in which people suspect a group of elites is conspiring to form an authoritarian, one-world government.


Bowdich said the handwritten note indicated the suspect made "a conscious decision to kill multiple TSA employees."


"He addressed them (TSA officers) at one point in the letter and stated that he wanted to 'instill fear into their traitorous minds,'" Bowdich said.


In his diatribe, the gunman claimed the TSA treats Americans like terrorists even though all people aren't equally dangerous, a U.S. law enforcement official said.


And near the end of the note was a derogatory reference to Janet Napolitano, the former head of the Department of Homeland Security that includes TSA, the official said.


Another clue about Ciancia's state of mind came from his family. Ciancia's family in New Jersey became concerned in recent days after he sent his brother and father "angry, rambling" texts venting about the government, living in Los Angeles and his general unhappiness, an intelligence source said.


Sources: Alleged shooter hated government, 'New World Order'


Opinion: Arming TSA officers not the answer


Widow of victim: 'I am truly devastated'


Hernandez is the first TSA officer to die in the line of duty since the agency was founded in 2001. He was working as a travel document checker at the time, the TSA workers' union said.


He would have turned 40 next week. His widow described him as a "wonderful husband, father, brother, son and friend."


Remembering Gerardo Hernandez


The chaos also affected more than 165,000 passengers on hundreds of flights, as the airport shut down for hours. By Saturday afternoon, all of it -- including Terminal 3 -- was reopened.


Placement of police questioned


The shooting has stirred questions about a recent repositioning of airport police officers around LAX.


Airport police Chief Patrick Gannon said in the past year, he decided to move officers from behind a TSA security checkpoint to in front of it, where they also took on "greater responsibilities" such as monitoring both the arrival and departure floors of the terminal.


"The threat ... at the airport does not exist behind security at that podium, the threat exists from the curbline on," Gannon said. "So ... we have our people stationed throughout the airport.


He said the nearest police officer to the site of Friday's initial shooting "was just moved to the front part of the airport."


Gannon acknowledged the trade-off of having the officers roam a larger area rather than sit at a checkpoint.


"So are they going to be in the exact same (place), exactly where I'd hoped they would be? No," he said. "It didn't happen in this particular case."


TSA Administrator John Pistole said the shooting has prompted a review of security protocol with partner agencies.


TSA: Number of guns discovered in airports rising


CNN's Dan Simon in Los Angeles and Greg Botelho in Atlanta reported and wrote. CNN's Evan Perez, Joe Sutton, Chelsea J. Carter, Casey Wian, Deborah Feyerick, Paul Matadeen, Kyung Lah and Carey Bodenheimer contributed to this report.



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