A 37-year-old lady was taken into custody on Monday after she fired a number of rounds inside Dallas Love Discipline Airport in Texas and was shot and injured by a police officer, the authorities mentioned.
No different accidents have been reported, the police mentioned, however the taking pictures despatched vacationers scrambling for canopy and delayed a number of flights.
The girl was dropped off on the airport simply earlier than 11 a.m. and appeared to vary her garments in a restroom earlier than rising and opening hearth contained in the airport, Chief Eddie Garcia of the Dallas Police Division mentioned at a information convention on Monday afternoon.
A Dallas police officer contained in the airport shot her, putting her “within the decrease extremities,” and he or she was arrested and brought to a hospital, Chief Garcia mentioned. Her situation was not instantly clear on Monday afternoon.
It was unclear whom or what the lady was aiming at when she fired. Chief Garcia mentioned that the officer fired a number of rounds at her after she started taking pictures.
In a later replace, the Police Division recognized the lady as Portia Odufuwa and mentioned that she had fired a weapon a number of instances in a ticket counter space of the airport.
Ms. Odufuwa was accused of falsely reporting a hearth in Dallas County in April 2021. That June, a choose dominated that she was unable to seek the advice of along with her lawyer and incompetent to face trial, however not a hazard to others, based on courtroom data.
The choose ordered Ms. Odufuwa to attend “psychosocial counseling” and dwell in housing organized by a well being care supplier.
Lanasha Darnell, 43, of Forney, Texas, who has labored on the airport since 2020, mentioned that she noticed individuals operating by the terminal.
“We’ve drills on evacuation and the place we’re speculated to go to, however in the midst of it, that’s all out the window,” Ms. Darnell mentioned.
Vacationers scrambled into retailers and eating places, hiding in kitchens and behind furnishings. Joe Castronovo III, who had flown from Orlando, Fla., on enterprise, mentioned he stepped off the Jetway and into the terminal and “noticed individuals operating” as vacationers tried to search out cowl.
Mr. Castronovo’s father, Joe Castronovo Jr., arrived on the terminal to select up his son because the chaotic scene was unfolding.
“I pulled up and noticed a girl screaming and operating away from the constructing,” the older Mr. Castronovo, of Highland Park, Texas, mentioned. “We acquired scared one thing was improper. Employees have been popping out and telling individuals to cover.”
Chief Max Geron of the Police Division in Rockwall, Texas, east of Dallas, mentioned on Twitter that he was evacuated from Love Discipline “after an obvious taking pictures.”
“Household is protected,” he mentioned. “TSA did an important job.”
A evaluate of no less than 433 energetic shooter assaults in the USA from 2000 to 2021 discovered {that a} police officer shoots or bodily subdues the shooter in lower than a 3rd of assaults.
Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, mentioned on Twitter that his workplace was intently monitoring the scenario.
“Grateful to all first responders on-site working to make sure vacationers’ security,” Mr. Buttigieg mentioned.
The Transportation Safety Administration was working to get vacationers by safety after the taking pictures, and didn’t have an estimate for a way lengthy that might take, Patricia Mancha, a T.S.A. spokeswoman, mentioned in a press release. Greater than 60 flights at Love Discipline have been delayed after the taking pictures, based on FlightAware, a flight-tracking web site.
Love Discipline Airport mentioned in a press release that the taking pictures had prompted an evacuation and a shelter-in-place order whereas the police responded.
The airport mentioned on Twitter that its flight operations have been suspended whereas the Dallas Police Division investigated, however it later introduced that its operations had resumed. The airport was nonetheless encouraging passengers to test with their airways for flight info.
Alex Traub contributed reporting.
