What to know
- Shots were fired at Dallas Love Field Airport just after 11 a.m.
- A woman was transported from the crime scene by Dallas Fire-Rescue after police said she fired several shots at the airport. Witnesses tell NBC 5 that the woman said something about her marriage before the shooting.
- Rockwall Police Chief Max Geron was on the TSA security line and told NBC 5 that he heard several gunshots at a ticket window.
A woman pulled out a gun late Monday at the Dallas Love Field Airport and began firing at the ceiling, Dallas police said. The woman, who according to witnesses screamed about her marriage, was attacked and shot by officers. No other injuries have been reported.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the woman, who was identified by police on Monday afternoon as Portia Odufuwa, 37, was dropped off at the airport just before 11 a.m. and that once inside, she went to a restroom and changed clothes.
Garcia said the woman left the restroom wearing a hoody or other than what she arrived in, pulled out a gun and started firing several shots. Most of the shots, Garcia said, appeared to be aimed at the ceiling.
“Right now we don’t know what exactly the individual was aiming at. From what we see, she was aiming at the ceiling,” Garcia said. “Several rounds have been found.”
According to the airportOfficers working inside confronted the woman around 11:23 a.m. and shot her in the lower extremities. The woman was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in an unknown condition. Police have no further information about her or the motivation behind the shooting or who dropped her off at the airport.
Cell phone video shared to NBC 5 showed travelers on the ground, behind seats by the gates and sheltered in place as the shooting unfolded.
The investigation is ongoing, and Garcia said he expected elements to change as more becomes known about what happened. The Dallas Police Department said they do not plan to release any other statements until Tuesday afternoon. The Dallas FBI and ATF assist the Dallas Police Department in the investigation. The FAA told NBC 5 that the incident is a police matter.
WITNESS SAYS THE SHOOTER SAYED HER HUSBAND THREATENED
Speaking to NBC 5 Monday afternoon, Colby James said he was standing next to the woman as she pulled out a gun and began firing.
James said the woman said she should make an announcement and say something about her husband cheating.
“She basically said her announcement, talking about her husband was cheating or something. And she basically said she was about to blow up this sucker. After she said she pulled a gun. She fired the first shot into the air and basically, everyone scattered,” James said. “We were running. Then 10-12 more shots followed.”
ROCKWALL CHIEF THROUGH SECURITY WHEN BUCKETS WERE
Rockwall Police Chief Max Geron told NBC 5 in a phone interview Monday morning that he and his family were going through security when they heard gunshots.
Geron said a number of gunshots were heard near a baggage or ticket counter. He said he grabbed his children and the TSA agents responded quickly by shuffling travelers into secure areas.
He said the TSA then learned that “the gunman had been shot” and that they were being evacuated from the airport and held outside.
GROUND STOP, DELAYS AT DALLAS LOVE FIELD
All flights to Dallas Love were held at their departure location until 2:30 p.m., according to the FAA. As of 2:30 p.m., outbound flights are about an hour behind schedule, according to FlightAware.
Love Field said around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon that operations at the airport are currently suspended and passengers have been released from the sterile area of ​​the terminal to be re-screened by the TSA. Operations will resume once the Dallas Police Department has completed their investigation.
Travelers are encouraged to check the status of their flight before going to the airport. Love Field tweeted that Monday afternoon travelers are not allowed to come to the airport before checking the status of their flight.
The TSA tweeted just before noon they were trying to get travelers through security and out of the heat, but they didn’t have time for when they would be overtaken.
Video from inside the airport Monday afternoon showed a congested scene with travelers filling the lobby near ticketing and baggage claim.
Planes that landed about an hour after the incident were temporarily held on the apron before going to the gates.
Southwest Airlines issued the following statement Monday afternoon saying that they have “paused all departures and arrivals while we await additional information from authorities” and that “there is no greater priority for us than the safety of our employees and customers, who are going to are said to be all safe” .”
Lynn Lunsford, of the FAA, told NBC 5 after noon Monday that there was no immediate estimate of the number of diverted flights as a result of the incident Monday afternoon.
This story is evolving. Please come back and refresh the page, as some elements may change. Scott Friedman, Scott Gordon, Sophia Beausoleil and David Goins of NBC 5 contributed to this report.
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