Portia Odufuwa, the person suspected of opening fireplace on the Dallas Love Field Airport on Monday morning, was beforehand busted for allegedly robbing a financial institution three years in the past.
In April 2019, native information station KDFW News reported that Odufuwa, who was 34 years outdated on the time, was arrested and accused of robbing a Bank of America in Wylie, Texas. After police arrived, they have been informed by workers that Odufuwa handed a financial institution teller a be aware through which she ordered the teller to present her cash. According to native information station KXAS-TV, Odufuwa was caught by officers shortly after and was charged with theft.
Shortly after it was introduced that Odufuwa, 37, was recognized because the suspected shooter on Monday, social media customers made the connection to the 2019 incident.
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“Dallas police have identified the @DallasLoveField shooter as 37 yr old Portia Odufuwa. She has a criminal history. This is her mugshot for a bank robbery arrest in Wylie back in 2019,” reporter Alex Boyér of KDFW News wrote on Twitter.
Similarly, Meredith Yeomans of KXAS-TV posted a tweet, which mentioned: “Officials confirm the suspect in today’s shooting at #LoveField was arrested in 2019 for bank robbery in Wylie. Portia Odufuwa was found incompetent to stand trial, according to court records. Case was dismissed in lieu of the civil commitment for mental health.”
NEW: Officials verify the suspect in immediately’s capturing at #LoveField was arrested in 2019 for financial institution theft in Wylie. Portia Odufuwa was discovered incompetent to face trial, in line with courtroom data. Case was dismissed in lieu of the civil dedication for psychological well being. @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/d3cxsIfTla
— Meredith Yeomans (@YeomansNBC5) July 25, 2022
The Dallas Police Department mentioned Monday that Odufuwa was dropped off on the airport and traveled inside to a terminal.
“Odufuwa went inside a women’s restroom and a short time later comes out into the ticket counter area and fires a weapon several times,” the division mentioned in a weblog put up. “A member of the Dallas Police department nearby quickly engaged with the suspect, firing their weapon and hitting the [woman] in the lower extremities…There were no passengers or DPD officers who were injured. The suspect was transported to a local hospital.”
According to police, the capturing at present stays beneath investigation, and the FBI is at present aiding.
The Airport Updates Travelers
Meanwhile in an announcement posted on Twitter, the airport mentioned that shortly after the pictures have been fired, airport officers ordered an evacuation and a shelter-in-place.
“Operations are currently suspended and passengers have been cleared from the sterile portion of the terminal for rescreening by TSA,” the assertion mentioned.
Operations on the airport resumed at roughly 3:40 p.m., native time, however vacationers have been nonetheless inspired to test the standing of their flight, KXAS-TV reported.
Newsweek was directed to the weblog put up after reaching out to the Dallas Police Department for remark.
An Eyewitness Account
While talking with KXAS-TV, a witness of the incident, recognized as Colby James, mentioned that Odufuwa made an announcement previous to opening fireplace, which included remarks about her husband.
“She basically said her announcement, talking about her husband was cheating or something. And she basically said she was about to blow this sucker up. After she said that she pulled out a gun. She fired the first shot in the air and basically, everybody scattered,” he mentioned.
Newsweek has been unable to independently confirm the witness’ account.