Paul Anthony Ciancia charged with murder following LAX shooting

Paul Anthony Ciancia – the man suspected of carrying out Friday’s gun attack at LA Airport – has been charged with murder.

Prosecutors say the death penalty could be sought if 23-year-old Paul Anthony Ciancia is convicted. He is in hospital after being shot by police.

A federal US security agent was killed and others wounded in the attack. Police are attempting to establish a motive for the assault.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has now reopened fully.

About 1,550 flights with 167,000 passengers were affected, airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said.

US Attorney Andre Birotte said Paul Anthony Ciancia was also charged with commission of violence at an international airport.

Andre Birotte said the gunman had pulled a “.223-calibre M&P-15 assault rifle out of his bag and fired multiple rounds at point-blank range” at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer Gerardo Hernandez, 39.

The attorney said the shots did not kill the officer, but the gunman returned to “shoot the wounded officer again”.

Gerardo Hernandez’s widow, Ana, said he was “a joyful person, always smiling and took pride in his duty to the American public”.

The FBI has also given more details of a note found on the suspect.

David Bowdich, the head of the FBI’s LA office, said: “In the note that was handwritten by the defendant, that was signed by the defendant, we found a statement where he made a conscious decision to kill multiple TSA employees.

“He addressed them at one point in the letter, and stated that he wanted to <<instill fear into their traitorous minds>>.”

David Bowdich said investigators had not yet been able to interview Paul Anthony Ciancia.

The gunman appeared to target agents of the TSA, which manages security at US airports.

He pushed through screening gates and walked more than 100 yards into the secure area of the terminal before law enforcement officers caught up with him in a food court.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press news agency that Paul Anthony Ciancia was shot in the mouth and leg by two airport police officers.