<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 LOS ANGELES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0A Sun Valley man plead guilty Tuesday to 11 federal charges related to a 2013 shooting at Los Angeles International Airport in which he murdered Transportation Security Administration Officer Gerardo Hernandez, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paul Anthony Ciancia, 26, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Hernandez on Nov.1, 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Ciancia is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As a result of the guilty pleas, Ciancia is expected to receive a sentence of at least life in federal prison, plus 60 years. The defendant could be sentenced to multiple life terms and additional years in prison. <\/span><\/p>\n There is no parole in the federal system.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Ciancia plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez to one count of murder of a federal officer; two counts of attempted murder of a federal officer; four counts of violence at an international airport; one count of discharging of a firearm during a crime of violence causing death; and three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence,<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe 2013 murder of TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez was a tragic and reprehensible act of violence,\u201d said Attorney General Loretta Lynch. \u201cWith this guilty plea, the Department of Justice is making clear that wrongdoers who target our nation\u2019s brave law enforcement officers will be held accountable for their crimes.”<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe guilty pleas entered in court today will hopefully bring some justice to the victims of this horrific attack that senselessly ended the life of a federal officer and injured several others,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker. \u201cMr. Ciancia now faces a life-without-parole sentence in federal prison, ensuring he will be punished for his crimes and never again have the ability to harm other innocent people.”<\/span><\/p>\n Adding, “Today\u2019s guilty plea is also a reminder of the tremendous acts of bravery and heroism demonstrated by law enforcement at LAX on the day of the shooting. I commend the hundreds of law enforcement personnel from the Los Angeles Airport Police, the Los Angeles Police Department, the TSA, the FBI and many other agencies who responded to this incident, conducted a thorough and professional investigation, and played a key role in reaching today\u2019s resolution.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 According to a plea agreement file last week, in early 2013, Ciancia purchased a semiautomatic rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition and 10 magazines for the rifle. <\/span><\/p>\n On the morning of November 1, 2013, Ciancia modified two pieces of luggage and zip-tied them together to conceal his loaded rifle.<\/span><\/p>\n Later that morning, Ciancia entered Terminal Three at LAX, removed the loaded rifle from his modified luggage and fired at and killed Officer Hernandez, who was checking passengers\u2019 travel documents as part of his duties as a TSA Officer.<\/span><\/p>\n Ciancia admitted that he then went upstairs to a TSA checkpoint, by which time many TSA officers and passengers had fled the airport. He fired his weapon at TSA Officers Tony Leroy Grigsby and James Maurice Speer, as well at a civilian, Brian Ludmer, all of whom sustained serious injuries and required surgery but survived the attack.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the plea agreement, as Ciancia passed passengers hiding in or fleeing the terminal during the attack, he asked if they were TSA and when they said no, he passed without shooting at them.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur Transportation Security Officers put their lives on the line each and every day to keep the flying public safe,\u201d said Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson.\u00a0 \u201cWe still remember the awful day that Officer Gerardo Hernandez became known as the first slain-on-duty officer. Today\u2019s threat environment demands that we all remain vigilant, and this guilty plea should remind everyone that if you harm one of our officers, you will be brought to justice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Transportation Security Administration appreciates the hard work of the Justice Department in addressing a tragedy that significantly impacted the men and women of our agency, and brought unspeakable pain to the family of one of our most devoted officers,\u201d said Keith Jeffries, TSA’s\u00a0Federal Security Director. \u201cOfficer Gerardo Hernandez was known as a hard-working, brave, dedicated officer and devoted family man who was a proud member of the TSA family.\u00a0 He is missed each day. Our thoughts and prayers remain with his family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n