An active shooter was shot dead at San Antonio International Airport by officer, SAPS chief says

SAN ANTONIO A man fired from a highway and then at San Antonio airport was shot dead by a police officer at the airport on Thursday.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the man entered the airport terminal around 2:30 p.m. A police officer in the park who worked overtime at the airport confronted the man who immediately got out of his car and onto the officer and the building, McManus said.

The officer fired back and rendered the shooter unfit.

The police chief attributed the officer’s swift action to saving lives.

“(The shooter) had a lot of ammunition and fired indiscriminately,” McManus said. “We are happy today that not many people were injured or killed during this event.”

McManus said police are familiar with the man due to previous interactions and said the man has ‘mental problems’.

The suspect was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

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An FBI spokesman at the scene said the incident would be treated by police as a local investigation and said there was no federal connection at this time.

Two people were taken to hospital for injuries sustained at the airport during the incident. McManus said one person was hit by shrapnel during the shooting, while a second person was injured as he ran away from the area.

Earlier Thursday, a gunman opened fire from an overpass at Highway 281 and Loop 1604. No one was injured in the incident. McManus said they are confident the shooter is the same person in both cases.

An airport spokesman said the FAA seized the arrival and departure immediately after the shooting at the airport, but said the space had been lifted and operations were returning to normal.

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The road at the lower level of the terminal used to load passengers is currently closed. Airline passengers can be picked up from the airport on the top level, that is, the departure level, or passengers can use the tunnel and be picked up at the parking garage, the spokesman said.