Man dead after Houston airport shooting sparks panic

Saturday, 4 May 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: A man sparked a panic at a busy Houston airport terminal on Thursday when he pulled out a gun and shot at the ceiling, then either shot himself or was killed by a security officer who confronted him.

Houston police spokesman Kese Smith said the man who died was 30 years old, but did not identify him. No other people were injured or killed in the incident, he said.

Smith said the man fired at least one shot at the ceiling. He was then confronted by a Homeland Security officer nearby, who fired his weapon.

“The Homeland Security Officer and the suspect fired shots simultaneously. The suspect was struck and (was) treated by responding paramedics who pronounced him dead in an ambulance,” Houston police said in a statement.

It was not clear if the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot or from one or more shots fired by the security officer.

Passengers said people ran and dived for cover during the shooting at one of the nation’s busiest airports. Pat Price, a passenger at the terminal who was eating lunch at the food court, said he was only about 50 yards away.