Alleged LAX Shooter Faces 11 Criminal Charges

By City News Service

A Sun Valley man accused of opening fire inside Terminal 3 of Los Angeles International Airport, killing a Transportation Security Administration officer, was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on 11 counts, including first-degree murder.

Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, allegedly walked into the terminal the morning of Nov. 1, pulled an assault weapon out of a duffel bag and opened fire. Authorities said he was specifically targeting TSA officers as he shot his way past a security checkpoint and into the gate area.

He was eventually shot by police, but not before TSA agent Gerardo Hernandez, a 39-year-old father of two, was fatally shot. Authorities said Ciancia shot Hernandez at a lower-level passenger check-in station and began walking upstairs, but returned when he realized Hernandez was still alive and shot him again.

The indictment identified the weapon used in the shooting as a Smith & Wesson 5.56-mm M&P15 semiautomatic rifle.

In addition to first-degree murder, the indictment also charges Ciancia with two counts of attempted murder for the shootings of TSA Officers Tony Grigsby and James Speer, who were wounded in the attack.

He was also charged with committing acts of violence at an international airport, one count of using a firearm to commit murder, three counts of brandishing and discharging a firearm.

The charges carry a possible death sentence, although federal prosecutors say they have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

During the shooting, Ciancia was allegedly a signed note saying he wanted to kill TSA agents and "instill fear in their traitorous minds," authorities said. Witnesses to the shooting said the gunman asked them whether they worked for the TSA, and if they said no, he moved on.

The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed shortly after the shooting, accusing Ciancia of murder.

Ciancia remains jailed without bail. He is schedule to be arraigned on the charges included in the indictment Dec. 26.