Update: New Orleans airport attacker has died

Brandi Doyal, Print News Editor
March 21, 2015

Update: 7:20 p.m.

Richard White, 63, died Saturday afternoon from the gunshot wounds he substained while on a rampage in the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, 

Original story:

While trying to go through the pre-clearance line around 8 p.m. Friday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Richard White attacked TSA agents with a can of wasp spray, according to a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department information official. 

White then proceeded to attack people in line with a machete and was shot three times by a TSA agent. White was transported to a local hospital, where he has yet to come around from his injuries. 

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a press release Friday night that officials had secured the airport and that Concourse B, where the incident occurred, would fully reopen Saturday.

“TSA agents, law enforcement officers and airport officials all acted quickly to stop the perpetrator and secure the scene,” the press release states. “Our thoughts are with our security officials injured in the line of duty, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery. Passenger safety is the number one priority at Louis Armstrong International Airport, and we will continue to closely monitor the situation.” 
 
In a press conference at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand addressed the incident and said that Molotov cocktails, a homemade explosive, were found in White’s bag along with a barbecue lighter and smoke bombs. 

Upon further investigation, Norman said officials found additional smoke bombs in White’s car, as well as tanks of acetylene, Freon and oxygen in the trunk. 

White had no serious criminal history and Norman said that this case involved a mental illness aspect, but until more concrete information was gathered, no more information would be released. 

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