DALLAS — A police officer shot and injured a woman Monday morning after she opened fire at Dallas Love Field Airport, authorities said.
The woman, identified as 37-year-old Portia Odufuwa, appeared to have shot at the ceiling after arriving at the airport just before 11 a.m., Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference. She entered the airport near the ticket counters in front of Southwest Airlines before going into a restroom and coming out wearing “some sort of hoodie … or some other different type of clothing than she had when she walked in.”
“She produces a handgun and begins firing,” Garcia said. “Simultaneously, as she’s doing that, our officer engages the suspect (and) strikes her in the lower extremities.”
Authorities took the woman into custody and transported her to Parkland Memorial Hospital, the chief said.
No other injuries were reported.
“We wanted to make sure our community knows that this is not an active situation,” Garcia said Monday afternoon. “We wanted to make sure our community knows that there are no other passengers, family members or people in the airport … that are victims.”
After the shooting, officials initiated a ground stop at Dallas Love Field, holding flights inbound to the airport at their departure locations, until 1:30 p.m. local time, KXAS-TV reported. Landing planes were being held on the tarmac and not taxiing to gates, according to the news station.
Travel update - @DallasLoveField @FAA reported a ground stop remains in effect for Southwest until 1330 EDT. Use @TSA and airline @SouthwestAir social media platforms to stay informed.
— TSA_SouthWest (@Tsa_SouthWest) July 25, 2022
Officials with the Transportation Security Administration said they would have to rescreen all travelers who were evacuated from the airport and asked for patience.
“Know that safety of travelers (and) staff is key,” officials said in a statement on social media.
Travel alert update @DallasLoveField @dallaspolice_ reports that shooting occurred at ticket counter (non-secure) area of airport. @TSA will have to evacuate all travelers from terminals & rescreen all - no exceptions. Be patient & know that safety of travelers & staff is key.
— TSA_SouthWest (@Tsa_SouthWest) July 25, 2022
Authorities continue to investigate.
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