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Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma, sent into lockdown after fatal shooting

POLICE said the fatal shooting of NFL player James Winchester’s father at an Oklahoma airport check-in was “premeditated”.

Staff writer
2 min read
November 16, 2016 - 1:25PM
News Corp Australia Network
Shots fired at Oklahoma airport

A MAN that opened fire at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma killing a baggage handler has reportedly turned the gun on himself.

Police have confirmed the victim is Michael Winchester, 52, an employee of Southwest Airlines and the father of current NFL player James Winchester of the Kansas City Chiefs his agent confirmed.

Winchester Snr was also a former Oklahoma University footballer from 1984-85, local media report.

The suspect’s body was found inside a vehicle, police confirmed.

That person has not yet been identified and police have not said how they died only to say he was a white male.

News9.com reports the vehicle was a red pick-up truck and the male died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Kansas City Chiefs player James Winchester. His father has been identified as the victim of the Oklahoma airport shooting. Picture: James Winchester/Twitter.
Kansas City Chiefs player James Winchester. His father has been identified as the victim of the Oklahoma airport shooting. Picture: James Winchester/Twitter.

The airport is slowly resuming operations.

Captain Paco Balderrama of the Oklahoma City Police Department said the shooting was not random.

“It’s too early in the investigation to figure out the exact motive, although the crime does appear to be premeditated,” he said.

KFOR reporter Lance West tweeted, citing unnamed sources, that police had discovered a ‘sniper’s nest’ in the airport car park. But police had not confirmed that.

Earlier Captain Balderrama said shots were fired in the airport’s car park. He said that there was not an active shooter situation at the airport.

This still image taken from an aerial video provided by KWTV shows police responding to a shooting at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. Picture: KWTV.
This still image taken from an aerial video provided by KWTV shows police responding to a shooting at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. Picture: KWTV.

Police evacuated the airport as part of their investigation.

“We have potential leads to a possible suspect. We have not positively identified the suspect,” Balderrama said at the height of the drama.

Passengers in at least three planes were sitting on the tarmac, KFOR reported.

The airport was closed by police after the shooting and the only aircraft that has been allowed to land is a Federal Transfer Center aircraft carrying federal prisoners to a transfer centre on airport property.

TV footage showed police surrounding a plane at the airport tarmac.

Police searched vehicles and took photos of license plates in the vicinity of the shooting.

Initial reports indicated one person was shot around 12.50pm Tuesday (local time) at the airport. Police officer Megan Morgan later confirmed a male died Tuesday afternoon (local time).

Captain Balderrama initially said that police were looking for a second reported victim, as well as the suspect. But police later ruled out a second victim.

An FBI SWAT team was reported on the scene, and a bomb squad was called to examine a vehicle belonging to the possible suspect.

Those inside the airport were asked to shelter in place.

Airport spokeswoman Karen Carney said arrivals and departures have been suspended until further notice.

“There are going to be some delays for flights until we have further information,” Carney said, while referring other questions to police.

Carney said Southwest, American, Delta, United and Alaska airlines each have terminals at the airport on the city’s southwest side, and 7000 to 8000 travellers pass through daily.

Southwest Airlines released a statement confirming that the 52-year-old man killed in the shooting was an employee of the airline.

Oklahoma City police officers gather information from vehicles leaving Will Rogers World Airport. Picture: Steve Gooch/The Oklahoman.
Oklahoma City police officers gather information from vehicles leaving Will Rogers World Airport. Picture: Steve Gooch/The Oklahoman.

“The Southwest Airlines family is deeply saddened by the passing of our southwest family member, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies and support to his family and Southwest co-workers at this time,” the press release read.

The airport is the main commercial air hub for Oklahoma City and services an average of 150 flights a day.

— with wires

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/at-least-one-injured-in-shooting-at-will-rogers-world-airport-in-oklahoma/news-story/800d1e5b05e3dbbadb94fbaef680e1e1