An “accidental discharge” of a firearm at the Atlanta airport sparked panic on Saturday. A controversial law allows the carrying of weapons at airports in the state of Georgia.
Police were actively looking for a convict on Sunday who fled Southeast Atlanta International Airport after a gun he was carrying accidentally discharged when it was discovered at a checkpoint, creating a movement of panic.
“We are actively pursuing this individual,” said Major Reginald Moorman of the Atlanta Police Force at a press conference after identifying the individual as Kenny Wells, 42.
The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) said Saturday’s incident occurred after a “prohibited item” was identified in a passenger’s baggage by an x-ray machine at a post control.
As a security guard opened the compartment containing the weapon, “the passenger rushed into the bag and grabbed the firearm, which then discharged.”
“The passenger then fled the area, running out through the airport exit,” TSA said, adding that the officer had asked the passenger not to touch the property.
The episode prompted dozens of passengers to take cover and left three people injured, none of which was caused by gunfire.
One person was injured in a fall and two others complained of shortness of breath, police said.
Shortly after the incident, at around 1:30 p.m. (6.30 p.m. GMT), the airport said on Twitter that there was “no active shooter”, adding that “there is no danger to passengers or passengers. employees ”. The police gave the green light shortly before 3 p.m.
Panic scenes
The loud noise scared many people, who knocked over suitcases and poles to escape, as footage broadcast by CNN shows.
You could hear people shouting “Get off! Get off! ” while others slid across the floor.
Some people took refuge in the restaurants at the airport, while others ran onto the tarmac. The incident happened on one of the busiest weekends of the year, days before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Since the start of the year, the TSA has detected more than 450 firearms at checkpoints at Atlanta’s sole airport, a global air traffic hub and ranked among the busiest with more than 100 million annual travelers in mean.
A controversial law from Georgia, state of which Atlanta is the capital, passed in 2014 allows people to carry authorized firearms at airports, although they do not pass through checkpoints, as well as in bars, schools and churches.
Reportage :The madness of guns in the United States
Under federal law, it is illegal to carry a weapon in a TSA control area.
“Firearms, especially loaded firearms, present an unnecessary risk at checkpoints,” the TSA said.
Passengers can travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are not loaded, locked and stowed in a hard case. The weapon must also be declared.
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