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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:18 p.m., Thursday, May 8, 2003

Gunshots fired at Lihu'e Airport

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A man fired two shots in the baggage claim area of Lihu'e Airport last night and made his way to a secured area at the airport before being apprehended.

The 24-year-old man was in police custody last night on Kaua'i and faced a charge of reckless endangerment. The incident did not appear to be an act of terrorism, officials said last night.

No one was injured, but the incident raised questions as to how a person with a loaded gun could get into a secured area of the airport.

About 200 passengers were evacuated from the airport, which was closed for about an hour, Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.

Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Keoni Wagner said a Honolulu-bound flight was delayed for about 40 minutes, as well as a flight from Honolulu to Lihu'e.

Ishikawa said the incident began about 6 p.m. when the man "forced his way" into the Hawaiian Airlines baggage claim area. Ishikawa said the man said something to two unarmed federal Transportation Security Administration officers before firing his handgun.

One bullet struck the floor and the other hit the ceiling, Ishikawa said.

"He said something (to the security officers), it doesn't look like he was threatening anyone in particular," Ishikawa said.

After firing his gun, the man went to a terminal gate area where he ordered passengers to leave, said Kaua'i County spokeswoman Cyndi Ozaki. He then sat with the gun pointed to his head, until police convinced him to surrender, Ozaki said.

Ishikawa said an investigation has been launched to determine how security was breached.

"Airport officials have asked TSA to review their security procedures, and we'll be looking at ours," he said.

Armed TSA officers are on guard at the check-in area of the airport, but not in the baggage claim area, Ishikawa said. He said no shots were fired at the man.