The union that represents Transportation Security Administration workers said Friday afternoon that it was “sickened” by the shooting at the Los Angeles International Airport that resulted in the death of at least one TSA agent.
The agent was killed by a gunman who opened fire with a rifle near the identification checkpoint at the Los Angeles airport, according to multiple reports.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) said Friday it believes that the Los Angeles airport shooting marked the first time a TSA worker had been killed in the line of duty since the agency was created in 2002.
“We are sickened by reports of today’s shooting at the Los Angeles International Airport,” AFGE President J. David Cox Sr. said in a statement.
{mosads}“Our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to the passengers and Transportation Security Officers killed or injured in this heinous act,” Cox continued. “Thank you to all of our brave TSOs who put their lives on the line every day to keep the flying public safe. AFGE is monitoring the situation along with TSA management.”
Airport officials said the shooting began at around 9:20 a.m. Pacific time Friday in Terminal 3 of the Los Angeles airport.
Multiple reports indicated that the gunman appeared to have been targeting TSA agents, who often face intense criticism for searches of passengers at airport security areas.
The shooter was allegedly wearing fatigues and carrying a bag containing a hand-written note that said he “wanted to kill TSA and pigs.”
-Rebecca Shabad contributed to this report.