KENNER, La. – A machete-wielding man who was shot during a bizarre rampage at New Orleans’ international airport died Saturday afternoon, shortly after authorities revealed that he had also been carrying a bag of Molotov cocktails when the melee began.
Richard White, 63, was shot Friday night as he chased an unarmed Transportation Security Administration agent through a concourse full of frightened travellers – and in the direction of a sheriff’s deputy, who drew her gun and fired three times. He died at 4:02 p.m. Saturday.
READ MORE: Man shot at New Orleans airport after security guard cut with machete
Sheriff Newell Normand said investigators discovered after the shooting that White had been carrying a bag loaded with Molotov cocktails: six Mason jars with cloth wicks soaked in gasoline.
“Fortunately, he didn’t seriously injure anybody,” Normand said.
The sheriff said White had a history of mental health problems but investigators were trying to determine the nature and extent of those problems. His family has been co-operating with the investigation.
White was a Jehovah’s Witness and had refused “certain types of medical care,” Normand said.
Authorities also found smoke bombs and tanks of acetylene, Freon and oxygen in the trunk of his car, Normand said.
Normand said White is believed to be a former taxi driver, but investigations into his background are ongoing.
Normand said White sprayed the unarmed Transportation Security Administration agents and several passengers in line at the checkpoint with wasp killer.
He then drew a large machete from the waistband of his pants. A male TSA agent blocked the machete with a piece of luggage as White ran through a metal detector.
White chased a female TSA agent while swinging the machete when he was shot three times by a female officer, Normand said.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said a review of security procedures will follow, adding that such is standard after any emergency.
Comments