Los Angeles, Nov 3 (IANS) The US Justice Department will file a murder complaint against Paul Anthony Ciancia, who opened fire at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Friday killing an official and injuring six.
Andre Birotte Jr., chief federal prosecutor for Los Angeles, said at a press conference Saturday that Ciancia may face life in prison with no parole possible or death penalty, Xinhua reported.
He will also be charged with commission of violence at an American airport.
FBI agent David Bowdich told media that Ciancia’s intention “was very, very clear”.
“He indicated his anger and his malice, I would say, to TSA (Transportation Security Administration) officers,” said Bowdich.
Ciancia, a 23-year-old white male, remained hospitalised Saturday with four gunshot wounds, including one on his head, and the FBI was unable to speak to him.
Four of the injured – two TSA emloyees and two civilians – were shot by Ciancia with an assault rifle. The other two were injured in the ensuing panic.
In a signed, handwritten note Ciancia carried with him, he said he wanted to install fear into the “traitorous minds” of TSA officers, Bowditch said.
Witnesses told local media that Ciancia asked people at the checkpoint of Terminal 3, whether they were TSA, and opened fire only at TSA officers.
Gerardo I. Hernandez, 39, who was working in the pre-screening area was killed. Video shows Ciancia shooting Hernandez multiple times.
The Terminal 3 reopened Saturday. A total of 1,550 flights with an estimated 167,050 passengers were affected at LAX Friday, an airport spokeswoman said. It is the third largest airport in the US.
TSA security agents at LAX and nationwide began wearing black mourning bands Friday in honour of Hernandez, the first TSA agent to die in the line of duty in the agency’s 12 years of existence.