Panic Ensues After Mistaken Announcement Of Gunman At Los Angeles Airport
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Police investigating a mistaken announcement that an armed man was on the loose at Los Angeles International Airport now say the rumor was started by an unknown person at a gate area, not over the public address system.
LAX Police Department Sgt. Belinda Joseph says about 20 passengers fled through emergency doors and onto the tarmac outside Terminal 2 Monday after a "misinformed announcement" apparently related to a police pursuit.
Police had followed an unarmed driver after a report that he may be trying to commit suicide off airport property. He eventually stopped at the terminal's departures level.
Somehow, that led to the false rumor that swept through a gate area. Joseph said police were investigating who made the announcement.
LAX was targeted by gunmen in November 2013 and 2002.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
