USA: California man accused of killing TSA agent during shooting at Los Angeles International Airport last month pleads not guilty to federal charges

Record ID: 868146

  • Title: USA: California man accused of killing TSA agent during shooting at Los Angeles International Airport last month pleads not guilty to federal charges
  • Date: 27th December 2013
  • Summary: RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - DECEMBER 04, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF WEST VALLEY DETENTION CENTER, SITE OF ARRAIGNMENT OF PAUL ANTHONY CIANCIA, SUSPECT IN NOVEMBER 2013 SHOOTING AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES (FILE - NOVEMBER 1, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE ACTIVITY AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PEOPLE WAITING BEHIND POLICE BARRICADE TAPE VARIOUS OF TERMINAL 3
  • Embargoed: 11th January 2014 12:00
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  • Location: Usa
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  • Country: USA
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  • Reuters ID: LVABGCD8WZN6ZUK44YPNXXQXQRMX
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  • Story Text: The man accused of opening fire at Los Angeles International Airport, killing a federal security screener and wounding three other people, pleaded not guilty on Thursday (December 26) to charges of murder and attempted murder of federal officers.
    This was the second court appearance for Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, in connection with the Nov. 1 shooting spree that left him critically wounded after a gunfight with police.
    Ciancia, who had a bandage on his neck, spoke softly and in a hoarse voice during the arraignment hearing where he pleaded not guilty to U.S. Magistrate Judge David Bristow to all charges in an 11-count federal indictment against him. His family was not present in court. Ciancia's hearing was held at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, located east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County, because Ciancia is being treated for his injuries there.
    Ciancia is accused of walking into Terminal 3 at the airport, removing a semi-automatic rifle from a bag and opening fire on an unarmed Transportation Security Administration officer standing at the entrance to a security checkpoint.
    The TSA agent, Gerardo Hernandez, 39, was the first agent slain in the line of duty since the agency was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
    Authorities say Ciancia then stalked past metal detectors through the checkpoint and into the airplane-boarding area, shooting and wounding two other TSA employees and a traveler before he was critically wounded in a gunfight with police at one of the world's busiest airports.
    In addition to a single count of murder and two counts of attempted murder of federal officers, Ciancia was indicted on four counts of committing an act of violence at an international airport and four counts of firearms offenses.
    On Dec. 4, Bristow ordered Ciancia held without bond after finding he posed a danger to the community and represented a potential flight risk.
    Three charges in the indictment against Ciancia carry a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty; federal prosecutors have not decided yet whether to seek capital punishment if Ciancia is convicted.
    Ciancia is scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Jan. 27 for a pre-trial hearing.
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