Man with machete shot at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

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Saturday, March 21, 2015
Man with machete shot at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
A man wielding a machete and a can of wasp spray attacked several TSA agents and was subsequently shot at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Friday, authorities said.

NEW ORLEANS, La. (KABC) -- A man wielding a machete and a can of insecticide attacked several TSA agents and was subsequently shot at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Friday, authorities said.

The suspect, identified as 63-year-old Richard White, approached a TSA agent scanning boarding passes at a checkpoint. When the officer challenged him, he sprayed the TSA agent in the face, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said.

Two other TSA agent approached White, who then sprayed a male agent in the face and struck the female agent with a machete, Normand said.

White chased the male TSA agent through a metal detector and they both headed toward the exit.

A law enforcement officer manned at the exit responded to the situation and fired at the suspect three times.

White was shot in the left side of chest, face and thigh. He was taken to a hospital, Normand said. He is now listed in critical condition.

A bystander sustained a graze wound to the arm and several travelers cut themselves on furniture while trying to leave the area.

Authorities identified the man as a taxi driver, who recently received his chauffeur license. He has little to no criminal history, Normand said.

He had no apparent connection with anyone at the airport, Normand said.

FBI agents, along with local law enforcement, responded to the incident. The airport was shut down for less than 20 minutes.

No other details were immediately available.