| CNN International | - |
(CNN)
-- The man who authorities believe opened fire inside a terminal at Los
Angeles International Airport sent a series of "angry, rambling" text
messages to family members in the days leading up to Friday's rampage, a
source told CNN.
AX suspect sent 'angry, rambling' texts to family before shootings
updated 11:32 PM EDT, Fri November 1, 2013
FBI: LAX suspect is Paul Anthony Ciancia
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, is accused of opening fire at LAX
- He recently moved to Los Angeles from New Jersey, authorities say
- Ciancia sent "angry, rambling" texts to his brother and father, a source says
- The tone and nature of the messages raised concern, the source says
The revelation come as
investigators are trying to piece together the background and possible
motive of alleged gunman Paul Anthony Ciancia, who police say killed a
TSA officer and wounded others in a shooting rampage inside Terminal 3 at LAX.
"We are currently investigating his background and more about him," FBI Special Agent in Charge David Bowdich told reporters.
Ciancia, 23, recently
moved to Los Angeles from New Jersey. He appears to have lived in
Delaware at one point. He graduated in 2008 from an all-boys Catholic
school, the Salesianum School, in Wilmington, according to Brendan P. Kennealey, the school president.
It was not immediately clear how long he had been in Los Angeles or why he moved to the area.
How the LAX shooting unfolded
In texts to his brother
and father, Ciancia said he was unhappy and discouraged living in Los
Angeles, according to the intelligence source with knowledge of the
investigation. The source spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the
ongoing investigation.
The tone and nature of text messages alarmed his family, the source said.
Search warrants were
being executed at his residence in Los Angeles and his former residence
in New Jersey, said a law enforcement official, who had been briefed on
the investigation. The official, who spoke on condition anonymity, was
not authorized to release details to the media.
According to LAX Police Chief Patrick Gannon, the suspected gunman carried a bag into the terminal, pulled "an assault rifle" out of the bag and opened fire.
Ciancia was shot several
times in the chest by police, bringing to an end a shooting rampage
that began about 9:20 a.m. just inside the doors of busy Terminal 3,
where hundreds of passengers were clearing security and waiting to board
flights.
Ciancia was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, the intelligence source said.
In the aftermath of the
shooting, investigators found information on the suspect expressing not
just anti-federal government sentiment but also anger at the TSA
specifically, according to a federal law enforcement official.
Eyewitnesses say the gunman asked "Hey, are you TSA?" If they answered "no," he moved on.
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