An AR-15 assault rifle was used in the shooting that reportedly left a TSA agent dead and others wounded at the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) on Friday, according to reports.
Reporter Brian Summers and ABC Los Angeles reporter that shooter, who was identified as Paul Ciancia, used an AR-15. Summers cited law enforcement sources for the report.
The shooter apparently walked up to the Terminal 3 security checkpoint and asked people if they were TSA agents before he opened fire. At least one person was killed and two other were injured.
“He went past the screeners and back into the airport itself,” said Los Angeles Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon at a press conference.
Police then “engaged him with gunfire” and took him into custody. He added that officials did “security sweeps” through the airport. The suspect “was shooting as he went into the terminal,” he added. Gannon said there was only one shooter.
The reports of shots came in at 9:20 a.m. local time.
According to the New York Times, the AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the U.S. Suspect James Holmes in Aurora, Colo., and Adam Lanza in Connecticut both used the weapon.
