Family Of Alleged LAX Gunman Issues Statement
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The family of the alleged LAX gunman Monday released a statement about Friday's shooting, which left one TSA agent dead and several others injured.
Paul Ciancia, 23, is accused of opening fire in Terminal 3 at LAX on Friday morning, specifically targeting TSA agents.
RELATED LINK: TSA Agent Killed, 6 Injured In LAX Shooting
Agent Gerardo I. Hernandez, 39, was fatally shot in the incident. Two other TSA agents, Tony Grigsby, 36 and 54-year-old James Speer, were also wounded.
Six people were hurt, including Calabasas High School teacher Brian Ludmer, who was shot in the leg, before Ciancia was taken down by authorities.
His family issued the following statement through attorney John Jordan in New Jersey Monday morning:
"We like most Americans are shocked and numbed by the tragic events of last Friday. We acknowledge the need to understand what happened and why it happened. To that end, we as the Ciancia family have fully cooperated with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies over the last several days.
It is most important for us as a family to express our deep and sincere sympathy to the Hernandez family. On all accounts, Officer Hernandez was an exemplary member of the law enforcement community and a good family man; our hearts go out to his family and any others who grieve his passing.
We wish to convey too our hopes for those who were wounded in this incident will experience quick and full recoveries. We also regret the inconvenience experienced by thousands of travelers as well as the administration and the employees of the Los Angeles Airport.
Paul is our son and brother. We will continue to love him and care for him. We will support him during the difficult times ahead. While we do not mean to minimize the grief and stress experienced by many other families, we hope that the public will understand that this is a very difficult time for our family too."
Ciancia had lived in Sun Valley for a year and a half, but is originally from Pennsville, N.J.
Ludmer has been upgraded from fair to good condition, officials at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center said Monday.
Agents Grigsby and Speer were released from the hospital over the weekend.
Ciancia remains unconscious and under guard at UCLA. He was shot four times and sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
The FBI has yet to interrogate him. Ciancia could face the death penalty as a result of the charges being filed against him.
