TSA Officer Shot At LAX May Have Been Wrongly Declared Dead By LEO And Left Untreated

CBS LA
Nov. 17, 2013

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — An Associated Press report published Friday says help was delayed for more than 30 minutes for the Transportation Security Administration agent who was fatally shot at Los Angeles International Airport earlier this month.

Gerardo Hernandez, 39, was working at a lower-level passenger check-in station on the morning of Nov. 1 when a gunman pulled a semi-automatic weapon out of a duffel bag and opened fire.

Two law enforcement officials cited in the AP reports said paramedics waited 150 yards away because police had not declared the terminal safe to enter.

It would be 33 minutes before airport police would put Hernandez, who was about 20 feet from an exit, in a wheelchair and take him to an ambulance, said the officials, who were briefed on the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe was still ongoing.

For all but five of those minutes, there was no threat from the suspected gunman, 23-year-old Paul Anthony Ciancia; he had been shot and was in custody, officials said.

Marshall McClain, president of the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Assn., also raised the possibility Friday that medical attention was delayed because Los Angeles Police Department Officer John Long told other responders Hernandez was dead.

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