LAX shooting response poor, report finds

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles International Airport was ill-prepared for a crisis when a gunman ambushed security officers last year, and the emergency response was hindered by communication problems and poor coordination, according to a report released Tuesday.

The report spotlighted flaws in various divisions of the airport and in systems that were in place, but it did not single out individuals responsible for problems.

It also didn’t mention that two airport police officers assigned to Terminal 3 were out of position without notifying dispatchers, as required, or discuss a decision months before the shooting to have police officers roam terminals instead of staffing security checkpoints such as the one approached by the attacker.

The 83-page report was put together by a consultant based on findings by several agencies that responded to the shooting and a review of surveillance video, dispatch logs and 911 calls.

It cited the heroism of officers who shot and arrested Paul Ciancia after a Transportation Security Administration officer was killed and three other people were injured Nov. 1.

It also detailed lapses in technology and coordination, however, and included some 50 recommendations and lessons learned.

“Had the attacker not been highly selective in his targets, and/or had there been multiple attackers with weapons of greater lethality, the outcome might have been far different,” the report said.