Los Angeles Airport Shooting Press Conference: The Takeaways

Following this morning’s shooting at Los Angeles International Airport, city officials including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Airport Police chief Patrick Gannon, and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck held a press conference outside of LAX to provide the latest updates on the event.

The officials would not state how many people were injured in the event, or if there were fatalities, but representatives at UCLA Medical Center reported that three male victims arrived at UCLA Medical Center, one in critical condition and two listed as fair.

A reporter speaking after the event said that there is still uncertainty about whether the shooter was indeed dead, as has been reported.

Reporters pressed for more details about the shooter, which the officials would not answer. Chief Beck would only say that, “The suspect got far into the terminal. There’s a Burger King that was deep into the terminal and he made it that far.”

Mayor Garcetti cut the press conference short after less than ten minutes and began addressing Spanish-language media.

Takeaways

Mayor Garcetti began the press conference by saying, “We believe this to be a static situation now.” Even though the situation is contained, the mayor said, “If you have a flight this afternoon we recommend you stay away from the airport”

Airport Police Chief Gannon said that, “A lone shooter that acted alone in this incident. We have done security sweeps through the airport and are confident this was in Terminal 3 and Terminal 3 only.”

“I’m not sure what we have yet,” in terms of fatalities, he said.

This was the first day on the job for Jim Featherstone, LAPD Interim Fire Chief. He said that the “LAFD has treated seven patients and transported six.”

LAPD Police Chief Beck would not offer any additional details. “We will not speak about the nature of the injuries or the identity of the suspect.”

The press gathered at the event reported that they were “frustrated” by the lack of information.