Woman shot dead after opening fire inside Love Field airport in Dallas, Texas – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

What there is to know
- Gunshots were reported inside Dallas Love Field airport just after 11 a.m.
- A woman was transported from the scene by Dallas Fire-Rescue after police said she fired multiple bullets inside the airport. Witnesses tell NBC 5 that the woman said something about her marriage before the shooting.
- Rockwall Police Chief Max Geron was in the TSA security line and told NBC 5 he heard multiple gunshots near a ticket window.
A woman pulled a gun inside Dallas’ Love Field airport late Monday morning and began shooting at the ceiling, Dallas police say. The woman, who witnesses said was screaming about her wedding, was confronted and shot dead by officers. No other injuries were reported.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the woman, identified by police Monday afternoon as 37-year-old Portia Odufuwa, was dropped off at the airport just before 11 a.m. and once inside, she went to the restroom and changed her clothes.
Garcia said the woman came out of the bathroom in a hoodie or something other than what she came in, pulled out a gun, and began firing multiple shots. Most shots, Garcia said, appeared to be aimed at the ceiling.
“At this point, we don’t know exactly where the individual was aiming. From what we can see, she was aiming for the ceiling,” Garcia said. “There are several cartridges that have been found.
According to the airport, officers working inside confronted the woman at around 11:23 a.m. and shot her in the lower limbs. The woman was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in an unknown condition. No other information about her or the motivation behind the shooting or who dropped her off at the airport has been confirmed by police.
Cellphone video shared with NBC 5 showed travelers on the ground, behind chairs at doorways and sheltering in place as the shooting unfolded.
The investigation is ongoing and Garcia said he expects things to change as more is learned about what happened. Dallas police said they don’t plan to release any further statements until Tuesday afternoon. The Dallas FBI and ATF are assisting the Dallas Police in the investigation. The FAA told NBC 5 the incident was a police matter.
WITNESS SAYS SHOOTER SAID HER HUSBAND WAS CHEATING
Colby James spoke to NBC 5 on Monday afternoon and said he was standing near the woman when she pulled out a gun and started shooting.
James said the woman said she had an announcement to make and said something about her husband cheating.
“She basically said her ad, talking about her husband was cheating or something. And she basically said she was about to blow that sucker. After she said she pulled out a gun. She fired the first shot in the air and basically everyone scattered,” James said. “We were running. There were another 10-12 shots after that.”
ROCKWALL CHIEF PASSING THROUGH SECURITY WHEN SHOTS WERE FIRED
Rockwall Police Chief Max Geron told NBC 5 in a Monday morning phone interview that he and his family were going through security when they heard gunshots.
Geron said a number of gunshots were heard near a baggage or ticket counter. He said he grabbed his children and TSA agents responded quickly by dragging the travelers to secure areas.
He said the TSA then learned that “the shooter was shot” and that they were evacuated from the airport and held in an outdoor location.
GROUND STOP, DELAYS AT DALLAS LOVE FIELD
All flights to Dallas Love have been held at their departure locations until 2:30 p.m., per the FAA. From 2:30 p.m., outbound flights are about an hour late, according to FlightAware.
Love Field said around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon that operations at the airport are currently suspended and passengers have been allowed to leave the sterile part of the terminal to be screened again by the TSA. Operations will resume once Dallas police conclude their investigation.
Travelers are encouraged to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Love Field tweeted Monday afternoon that travelers should not come to the airport before checking their flight status.
The TSA tweeted just before noon they were trying to get travelers through security and inside the heat, but they had no time to catch up.
Video from inside the airport on Monday afternoon showed a crowded scene with travelers filling the concourse near the ticket office and baggage claim.
Planes that landed about an hour after the incident were temporarily held on the tarmac before proceeding to the gates.
Southwest Airlines issued the following statement early Monday afternoon saying it “has suspended all departures and arrivals while we await further information from authorities” and that “there is no higher priority for us than the safety of our employees and customers, who would all be safe.”
The FAA’s Lynn Lunsford told NBC 5 Afternoon Monday that there was no immediate estimate Monday afternoon on the number of flights diverted due to the incident.
This story is developing. Come back and refresh the page as some items may change. NBC 5’s Scott Friedman, Scott Gordon, Sophia Beausoleil and David Goins contributed to this report.