Officer-Involved Shooting At Dallas Love Field, 1 Person Injured
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A police officer shot a man who was allegedly assaulting the mother of his kids outside baggage claim at Dallas Love Field around noon on Friday.
Witnesses at the airport say they saw an officer with his gun drawn and then there was a burst of gunfire.
"The next thing I knew, he, [the gunman] when he was out of the vehicle, stepped back and drew his gun, and gunfire started and everybody started running," said witness Renee Chack.
On a video posted on Instagram more then eight shots can be heard being fired. There are also sounds of someone screaming and officers yelling "stay down" over and over. Only one officer fired shots.
Officials with the Dallas Police Department say the incident began as a domestic disturbance. Dallas Police released video of the shooting and the five minutes leading up to it Friday evening.
Assistant Chief Randy Blankenbaker said the incident involved a woman and a man believed to be the father of her children. A damaged car, with windows broken out, is cordoned off at the airport. The damage to the vehicle apparently happened when the male suspect threw rocks at it.
Blankenbaker said, "The suspect had a rock during the disturbance is what we've been told." When asked if the man also had some type of firearm he said, "Not that we're aware of at this time."
Blankenbaker said the African American male suspect, who has not been identified, approached the officer more than once and that the officer, "...discharged his weapon a number of times. That gentleman [suspect] was struck and had to be transported to a local hospital. It's too early at this time to be able to tell you what his condition is. When he left I believe that he was conscious."
On Friday evening police said the suspect is in stable condition.
The woman involved in the attack is said to be fine.
Some people were startled by the shooting and went through the security line without being checked so the airport has had to pull everyone back out of the secure area and re-check them. According to Blankenbaker the airport was never shutdown. This is the reason for the backup at Transportation Security Administration security gates.
Baggage claim was closed for a short period but Dallas Love Field Operations Manager Mark Duebner said the area is now open and "currently functioning."
Planes could be seen taking off from the airport. Duebner said, "The aircraft that were already loaded departed on time, and we are still taking arrivals." As far as the re-screening of passengers Duebner said, "TSA has got all there resources here," but that a backup of several hours is expected before things get "back to normal."
"As the investigation into today's shooting outside Dallas Love Field continues, Southwest confirms all of our Employees and Customers are safe, and that we're working with local and federal authorities to fully restore our operation at the airport. Vehicular traffic is being routed around the active investigation scene by local police. Customers traveling to and from Dallas Love Field today should consult Southwest.com for the latest information regarding specific flights, and flexibility to change travel plans that involve Dallas today. We're working with air traffic controllers nationwide to manage inbound air traffic. The airfield remains open and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is working to secure all areas of the building and screen a backlog of people and baggage created by the incident. Flights already bound for Dallas will be able to land, taxi to a gate, and our Customers will be able to deplane into the terminal."
There are dozens of Dallas Police Department squad cars at the airport and officers are diverting traffic, not allowing cars near the terminal.
Dallas police have asked witnesses to the incident to come forward.
* This continues to be a developing story. CBSDFW.COM has crews on the ground and in the air and will update this story as information becomes available.
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