Two individuals were injured by gunfire and another person was stabbed in a family dispute-related incident at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, according to the police.
The shooting took place around 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday at a restaurant situated outside the security checkpoints in Terminal 4, according to the Phoenix police. During the incident, a woman and two adult males were shot. The female victim sustained life-threatening injuries, as stated by the police.
The woman’s condition remained critical as of Thursday, but three other individuals who were taken to the hospital have been treated and released. Police have stated that, following discussions with county prosecutors, no arrests have been made. They have emphasized that the investigation into the airport shooting is still ongoing.
According to the police, the individuals involved in the altercation were familiar with each other. The dispute escalated to the point where one of them resorted to using a firearm and discharged it.
According to Phoenix police Sgt. Mayra Reeson, it is believed that this incident originated from a family dispute that quickly escalated. As the altercation unfolded, a man took out a gun and fired multiple shots, hitting both a woman and another male individual. The male, who was armed with a knife, managed to retaliate and cut the shooter. Additionally, another man sustained minor injuries during the altercation, as reported by the police.
The police initially reported that three individuals were shot during the incident. However, they later revised the information, stating that two people were shot. It remains unclear whether the injuries sustained by another person were a result of a gunshot or a cut.
After the shots were fired, authorities apprehended a man and a girl in a parking garage near the airport. The police have not disclosed the purpose of the group’s presence at the airport, whether they were traveling or had another motive for being there.
The sound of gunfire caused a temporary closure of a security checkpoint at the terminal, resulting in the shutdown of several restaurants and a brief pause in service at the terminal’s PHX Sky Train station.
Reeson acknowledged that the situation was indeed frightening as it occurred on Christmas evening when everyone was eager to return home.
According to Reeson, there was another incident at the airport that was completely unrelated to the shooting. This incident occurred nearly two hours later when a man arrived at the airport with guns. Reeson stated that the man had received a text message, which led him to believe that there was an active shooter at Sky Harbor.
According to police, the man at the airport handed his guns to others before approaching an officer and yelling at him. Despite being commanded to stop, the man did not comply and the officer took him to the ground. During the ensuing struggle, the man also spat on one of the officers.
Sky Harbor is a bustling hub for American Airlines and serves as a major connecting point for passengers traveling with Southwest and Frontier Airlines. As one of the largest commercial airports in the United States, it offers a wide range of facilities and services to cater to the needs of travelers.
The number of people who were shot at the airport has been corrected to two, instead of the previously reported three, according to Phoenix police.
Jeff Martin, a staff writer from the Associated Press, contributed to this report in Atlanta.