Three people were shot, and one man was stabbed in a violent Christmas night altercation at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona. The incident happened just before 9:45 p.m. in Terminal 4, close to a pre-security restaurant.
Details of the Incident
The altercation was between people who were known to each other, Phoenix police said. During the altercation, one of the individuals pulled out a firearm and shot at the others. A female suffered life-threatening injuries, and two males suffered gunshot wounds but are in stable condition. Another man was also stabbed and is in stable condition.
Arrests Made
According to Phoenix police, Officers later detained a juvenile female and a man in the parking garage. The man had at least one stab wound. Police found a firearm at the scene of the incident. Investigators are trying to figure out why the group was at the airport and what specifically preceded the altercation.
According to Phoenix police Sgt. Mayra Reeson, Police had yet to interview those detained early Thursday, and no charges had been filed. Weapons have been recovered, she added.
Impact on Airport Operations
The shooting temporarily closed a security checkpoint in Terminal 4 and suspended the PHX Sky Train service. Despite the disruptions, airport officials said flight schedules were not affected.
Subsequent Incident Involving Armed Individual
In a related event, a shirtless man with multiple guns arrived at the airport after a hoax active shooter report. The police arrested him after an altercation. The incident happened about two hours after the first shooting.
Ongoing Investigation
Phoenix police are continuing to investigate both incidents to determine the motivations and relationship between the two individuals. The authorities have not identified those involved. The events have sparked concern over security measures at the airport, particularly amid the busy holiday travel period.
