Houston Airport Shooting: Suicide Reported At Bush Intercontinental Airport (UPDATE)

Gun Suicide At Major Airport

Authorities in Texas responded to a shooting early Thursday afternoon at Bush Intercontinental Airport, KHOU reports.

The incident took place in Terminal B, according to MyFoxHouston.

The unnamed suspect allegedly fired a shot into the ceiling near the ticket counter in the airport, according to the Houston Chronicle. When Homeland Security confronted him, he reportedly shot himself in the head. He died at an area hospital.

According to the Houston Police Department earlier today:

About 1:35 p.m. today, a report of shots fired at Bush Intercontinental Airport was received by HPD at Terminal B. A lone armed male has suffered at least one gunshot wound and has been transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries. There are no other reports of injuries nor other persons involved. Further information will be posted as it is confirmed.

Police believe the shooting was an isolated event, and there was no search being conducted for other suspects.

More from the Associated Press:


By MICHAEL GRACZYK.

HOUSTON — Shots were fired near a ticket counter at Houston's largest airport on Thursday, critically injuring at least one armed man and sending people in the terminal scrambling and screaming, a Houston police spokesman and witnesses said.

A call that there had been a "discharge of firearms" came into police at 1:35 p.m., John Cannon, the spokesman said. The shots were fired near the ticket counter in Terminal B at Bush Intercontinental Airport, he said. One person has been taken to an area hospital with life threatening injuries.

Dale Howard, of Tomball, was at the baggage handling area of the airport waiting for his sister to arrive on an incoming flight when he heard two shots fired from the floor above. A few seconds later, he said he heard three more shots.

"People were screaming. I knew exactly what it was – gunfire," Howard said.

Police from an adjacent station rushed in, and Howard said he directed them to the floor above.

Parts of the terminal remained blocked off as police investigated the shooting. The airport announced on its Twitter feed that the terminal had been closed and passengers would be redirected to other terminals.

Greg Newburn, who was in the terminal waiting for a flight to Oklahoma City, said he was sitting in a cafe area when he heard two gunshots and after a pause, several more.

"It seemed like quite a few shots. Everyone was scrambling, running left and running right, turning tables up and hiding behind tables. Nobody knew what was happening. I couldn't tell where the shots were coming from," he said.

Newburn, from Gainesville, Fla., said it took him a few seconds to realize that the shots had come from the terminal ticketing area, near the security checkpoint. Newburn said he didn't see who had fired the shots.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for more updates.

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