News / Society

Dallas airport on lockdown after police-involved shooting

Friday, 10 June 2016 8:24 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 10 June 2016 8:57 PM ]

An officer (circled in red) at Dallas Love Field Airport can be seen opening fire at the exit outside the baggage claim area on Friday, June 10, 2016.

An officer-involved shooting has happened at a major airport in Dallas, Texas, prompting an evacuation and lockdown of the airport.

The incident happened on Friday outside Dallas Love Field Airport when a man was shot by an officer after he refused to surrender, officials said.

The shooting took place outside the baggage claim area following a domestic violent situation where the man assaulted a woman, causing officers to intervene.

The suspect, an unidentified black male, smashed the windows of a car which contained the woman, who appeared to be his wife, and his children.

Witnesses said that the man, holding a large rock in his hands, approached an officer, who was saying "drop the rock and stop walking."

"The man was yelling at the cops, basically saying 'shoot me shoot me, I dare you,' something to that effect," one traveler said.

Officials said the officer opened fire and shot the man, who was taken to hospital in unknown condition.

A video posted online by a witness shows the officer firing at least nine gunshots.

The shooting prompted the officials to close some of the gates. No cars were being allowed in or out and those who passed through airport security were being re-screened by the TSA.

“Right now we’re going to have to empty the terminal, sweep it to make sure it’s empty and re-screen them,” Mark Duebner, Dallas’ director of aviation, said. “It doesn’t take too long to get people out of the airport. It’s a question of how long it will take TSA to get everyone re-screened.”

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