Breaking: Shooting at Miami International Airport

Miami-Dade Police shot a knife-wielding man who managed to breach a security checkpoint and make it all the way to the tarmac before being apprehended. Terminal J remains closed.

I received an text from one of my employees a few hours ago stating that his Delta flight was delayed out of Atlanta due to “some shooting in Miami.” His aircraft was coming in from Miami and I saw that it had pulled out of the gate at 7:51p ET but had sat on the tarmac for nearly three hours.

There was no breaking news stories yet, but soon enough a story popped upon the wire. Here’s how a local CBS affiliate covered it–

Here’s a summary of what happened, based upon what we know now:

• A man armed with a knife gained entry to the secure of the airport by entering through the exit in Terminal J
• TSA noticed and alerted law enforcement immediately
• The man breached a second secure area and gained access to the tarmac
• Miami-Dade police officers rushed to airprots
• The man barricaded himself into a room off the tarmac and tried to escape via a ceiling panel
• Passengers evacuated from Terminal J and moved to Terminal H
• Man was shot, wounded, and taken to the hospital
• No word yet on his motive
• Terminal J remains closed

Security incident involving a single suspect & @MiamiDadePD has occurred at MIA. Situation under control. Terminal J is temporarily closed.

— Miami Int'l Airport (@iflymia) September 8, 2017

CONCLUSION

With Hurricane Irma approaching Miami, anxiety is pulsating through the airport tonight. I am sure details will emerge, but I wonder if this could have been a man who was denied boarding or could not purchase a ticket and responded in this way out of desperation.

Lastly, to all my readers in Florida: stay safe. I hope the storm veers east and completely avoids you!

image: Jason Walsh / Wikmedia Commons