A passenger waiting for a baggage check in the main security screening area of the Atlanta airport rummaged in a purse and pulled out a firearm, which went off, causing chaos among travelers and the temporary suspension of flights Saturday for the afternoon, federal authorities reported. Then he fled.
The passenger, later identified as an ex-con, escaped with the weapon from the inspection area and fled the airport, the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said in a statement, in the who clarified that it was not an incident with an active shooter and described the shooting as accidental.
Police later noted that they had issued an arrest warrant for the passenger, identified as Kenny Wells, a 42-year-old man who had previously been convicted of a felony.
Airport Police Commander Major Reginald Moorman said Wells was wanted on charges that included carrying a concealed weapon at a commercial airport, possession of a firearm as an ex-con, firing a firearm and reckless conduct.
“We are actively looking for this individual right now,” Moorman said at a Saturday night news conference called by the TSA and airport officials.
The shooting caused a sensation on social media when terrified travelers posted videos on Twitter and other sites showing moments of chaos at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest in the country.
Authorities reported that three people suffered minor injuries, including one person who fell in the airport atrium area away from the inspection area, and two who complained of shortness of breath.
Neither passengers nor employees were in danger, according to airport officials.
“We were fortunate that when the gun went off, no one was seriously injured,” said Robert Spinden, the TSA federal security director for Georgia, at a news conference at the airport. Authorities have not yet disclosed the type of weapon involved in the incident.
Although the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the temporary suspension of flight departures, airport officials asserted that operations never ceased and the airport did not close its doors.
They added that the airport resumed its normal activities in less than two hours.
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