Sacramento Airport Shooting Leaves Gunman Dead

Police have confirmed that a man took his own life in a shooting incident at Sacramento International Airport, California.

A spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, Amar Gandhi, explained that on Wednesday just after 8.30 P.M. authorities received a call from the gunman, whose identity has not been revealed. Authorities did confirm that he is a 53-year-old male, however.

The gunman told police that they were in a car inside the parking garage of the airport across the street from Terminal A and wanted to kill themselves.

After the incident, Gandhi spoke to reporters and said: "Airport deputies from Sacramento county Sheriff's office came and attempted to contact the driver.

"They spoke to them, he was in a vehicle by himself, they spoke to him from a distance and tried to talk him out and hear his thoughts.

"Unfortunately that driver then fired two shots, the deputies backed away, called for more support.

"Ultimately what happened is they discovered that he had shot himself, he was alone in the car, we have not identified him just yet."

Gandhi clarified that there were no threats of an active shooter or an active shooter situation despite initial reports. No one else was shot or injured in the incident.

He also said neither of the two shots fired by the gunman were aimed at the authorities in the area. He added that all the shots appeared to be contained inside the vehicle.

He added: "The shots were fired while the airport deputies were actually contacting [the shooter].

"The SWAT team arrived, along with our armored vehicle, and that is when they made the discovery and confirmed the condition [of the individual]."

As the incident unfolded the airport was put on to lockdown. Gandhi said, to his knowledge, there was minimum disruption. The parking garage was immediately locked down as authorities engaged with the gunman.

Car traffic was also diverted away from Terminal A for a brief time after the shooting as detectives conducted their investigations and searched the area.

Gandhi noted that during this time authorities were working with the airport to get the cars of travelers out of the area, if necessary.

Gandhi closed the press conference by saying: "Unfortunately, obviously, the [incident] ended in a death, but ultimately this could have gone a lot worse.

"Especially with the initial calls that we were getting as far as an active shooter which, like I said, it was not. So probably the best resolution we could come to outside of that person dying."

Sacramento International Airport's senior public information officer Scott Johnston spoke to Newsweek about the incident.

He said: "All of us at [Sacramento International Airport] are deeply saddened today by the incident that took place tonight at SMF.

"After securing the area, law enforcement found the individual, a 53-year-old man, deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot.

"There was no danger to the public. the airport is currently open and operational. All parking lots, except level five of the garage, are open.

"All of us here at the airport would like to thank our customers for their cooperation during this event."

Newsweek has contacted the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department via its official website contact form for comment.