# Shooting at LAX Terminal 3 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 1, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858 "2013-11-01T17:24:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/21 "2013-11-01T22:54:02Z")
Tory (Mythbusters) on the phone with TMZ. He was at gate 33 around the corner from the shooting at gate 36. > **['Mythbusters' Stars Evacuated from LAX -- Gunman Reportedly Shot Up Terminal](https://www.tmz.com/watch/0-l5dsvioj/)** > > A gunman reportedly just opened fire inside a terminal at LAX -- and "Mythbusters" stars Grant Imahara and Tory Belleci were in the danger zone. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/22 "2013-11-02T00:47:01Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Yes, that’s exactly how real life works. You are clearly sane. Obama sent a drone to kill al-Awlaki, an American - no court, no judge, no due process - only because of his vocal incitement for radicals to commit terrorism acts against US for whatever reason that itched him. In other area, a lot of times certain conservative radio personalities, specifically Rush Limbaugh, speaks with bombastic style against the Government in a way that could be interpreted as an incitement to commit violent acts - i.e. terrorism - specifically against TSA as the most obvious of Government’s “intrusions”. Put 2 and 2 together and ask for a drone to be dispatched as they just confirmed anti-TSA material. Calling me crazy will not change the reality you live in … ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/23 "2013-11-02T00:58:44Z")
I think there’s a wee bit of difference between one guy leaving the country, enlisting in the service of a terrorist organization that is at war with the US, and plotting to commit acts of terrorism and another guy being a half-witted drug-addicted blowhard liar of a radio show host. Obama is not going to have Limbaugh killed, that’s just crazy talk. Back to the shooting. The important thing is- we can’t talk about the gun. We can never talk about the gun. What this shows us is that all airline passengers should be packing heat. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/24 "2013-11-02T01:01:15Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > It’s an all ceramic gun that can’t be detected by the TSA. You’re right that it can’t be detected by the TSA. But then, neither could an Abrams. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/25 "2013-11-02T01:05:54Z")
Why can’t Glocks be easily detected? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/26 "2013-11-02T01:23:01Z")
Kudos to Airport Police. they saved a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/27 "2013-11-02T01:32:49Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > Therefore, wouldn’t it make sens for Obama to send a drone and take care of it so we can prevent terrorism? He’s done it before, no? Or, this is different; i.e. freedom of speech and such? What, did you miss the part where he stood up in front of everybody and said he’d preserve and protect and defend the Constitution? Adding that, if you like the plan you have, you can keep it? ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/28 "2013-11-02T03:15:23Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > Unless he’s an Arab … Or a time traveler. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/29 "2013-11-02T05:49:38Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > Obama sent a drone to kill al-Awlaki, an American - no court, no judge, no due process - only because of his vocal incitement for radicals to commit terrorism acts against US for whatever reason that itched him. > > In other area, a lot of times certain conservative radio personalities, specifically Rush Limbaugh, speaks with bombastic style against the Government in a way that could be interpreted as an incitement to commit violent acts - i.e. terrorism - specifically against TSA as the most obvious of Government’s “intrusions”. > > Put 2 and 2 together and ask for a drone to be dispatched as they just confirmed anti-TSA material. > > Calling me crazy will not change the reality you live in … Apparently you didn’t see (or listen) to the note Twickster gave you, so I will make it more clear and blunt for you: You were told to drop it and didn’t listen. This is now a warning. Since you’ve already had a suspension, your posting privileges will be taken away for good if you do not start following the rules and mod instruction. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/30 "2013-11-02T15:39:18Z")
So, what do we know about the shooter? He’s 23 and from New Jersey. He’s a U.S. citizen. His given names are common American/English-speaking ones. His surname is Italian, or possibly Argentine. He apparently believes in conspiracy theories. ISTM that we haven’t been told all that much about him. Normally we’d know where he was born, where he went to school, and had a dozen of his high school friends coming forward to say ‘He was a really nice guy’ or ‘Dude was crazy!’ or ‘He tended to be rather quiet’ or whatever. Usually we get a full biography on the terrorist/wacko, and the news shows are breathlessly racing to be the first to release personal details. Do I really care if he graduated from Patterson High School, Class of 2008? No, not really. Do I care if he was an affable kid? Or a creepy kid? Not as such. But knowing this sort of thing helps to form a picture of him, which helps people understand why he went nuts. Or else makes them wonder why he went nuts. Personally, if details were given I’d note them and store them for retrieval in case they’re needed. It’s been – what? 23 hours since the attack? But it still seems fewer details have been released than there normally would be. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/31 "2013-11-02T16:00:25Z")
I think they are holding back because it seems like he was targeting the TSA specifically. We shall see. **Capt Kirk** ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/32 "2013-11-02T16:21:56Z")
Did he pass through a checkpoint before this point, or was he just outside the checkpoint? ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/33 "2013-11-02T16:30:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Did he pass through a checkpoint before this point, or was he just outside the checkpoint? He made it to the gates. From what I have been able to gather he pulled a rifle out of his bag at the place you show ID to get into the security like(downstairs), then went up and through the exit lane(upstairs)bypassing security and into the gate area. I got the impression he was shooting at TSA and Security when he came to them and avoiding hitting civilians but I am by no means sure this was the case. **Capt Kirk** ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/34 "2013-11-02T16:33:06Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Why can’t Glocks be easily detected? It’s a joke. In Die Hard 2 a plot point was a ceramic Glock that couldn’t be detected by airport security. It doesn’t exist but many thought it did. Always interesting to see the bad info that they scramble to report as soon as possible. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/35 "2013-11-02T16:42:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Did he pass through a checkpoint before this point, or was he just outside the checkpoint? According to LA Times: > [@](#): > > At 9:20 a.m., the gunman entered the third of LAX’s nine terminals through the main door, pulled an AR-15 assault rifle out of a bag and “began to open fire,” said Los Angeles World Airports Police Chief Patrick Gannon. > > The gunman walked up one flight of stairs, to the entrance of the security checkpoint, where, officials said, he shot at least one of the TSA officers. He then entered the airport itself, walking with determination past a candy shop, a newsstand and a bookstore. An airport police officer and a sergeant engaged the gunman in a brief gunfight near a food court. > > “They hit him multiple times before he went down,” said one law enforcement source. A witness said the gunman was wearing a bulletproof vest. Apparently taken down by regular officers on patrol and not by a special team – they say the incident was over in less than 10 minutes. I went through LAX T3 this summer, it’s kind of tight quarters for a modern airport but had he the intention to inflict true mass casualties rather than make a point against TSA he could have. (Check in is at middle level in the building; security and the coincourse are upper level and baggage/ground transfer is in the lower level) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/36 "2013-11-02T18:03:20Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > It’s a joke. In Die Hard 2 a plot point was a ceramic Glock that couldn’t be detected by airport security. It doesn’t exist but many thought it did. > > Always interesting to see the bad info that they scramble to report as soon as possible. And it’s always interesting to see the gun nerds go all anal retentive on the reports. “They called it a clip, but it’s a magazine, they called it a bullet, but it’s a cartridge, it’s not an automatic, it’s a semi-automatic, it’s a casing, not a shell, that’s not a actual AR-15, it’s a cheap knockoff, AR-15 is a registered trademark of Colt”. In my head, I always read this in the comic book guy’s voice. It’s like some cross between the NRA and a Star Trek convention. I never saw such a bunch of people hung up over minutia. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/37 "2013-11-02T18:22:15Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I went through LAX T3 this summer, it’s kind of tight quarters for a modern airport but had he the intention to inflict true mass casualties rather than make a point against TSA he could have. Yeah, I fly out of that terminal all the time, so I’m very familiar with the layout. If his intent had been to kill a lot of civilians it would not have been difficult. Security starts at the bottom of an escalator/stairs where they check your boarding pass. At the top of the escalator the line for security snakes back and forth. Beyond the metal detectors is a single narrow concourse leading to two semi-circular waiting areas with a food court in the middle. The gates all share those two waiting areas. It’s not a particularly big terminal and it only takes about a minute to walk from security to the farthest gate. It sounds like he pulled out his gun at the bottom of the escalator where they first check your boarding pass, made his way upstairs, shot his way through the security checkpoint and headed down toward the gates. The airport police finally caught up with him at the far end of the east waiting area. Basically he covered the full length of the terminal, and if he’d been targeting people indiscriminately the death toll would have been much higher. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/38 "2013-11-02T23:37:49Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I think there’s a wee bit of difference Agreed. It’s the degrees we differ but paradigm is the same. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/39 "2013-11-03T00:02:14Z")
If only TSA had some “good guys with guns” … ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858/40 "2013-11-03T00:32:22Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If only TSA had some “good guys with guns” … I dunno… [Average $15/hour workers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_Security_Administration#TSA_employees) with a history of [theft](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/28/tsa-screener-pythias-brown-theft-airports-common-convenient-thieving-culture_n_1923003.html)? :dubious: I keed! I keed the TSA! 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858.md?page=3)