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Crime

Shots fired at Oklahoma City airport

November 15, 2016

Flights have resumed after a fatal shooting at an airport in the US state of Oklahoma. Police say a gunman opened fire on a Southwest Airlines employee in what appeared to be a premeditated attack.

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USA Polizei Absperrung
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Samad

The suspect in the fatal shooting was found dead inside a truck in the car park of Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport late Tuesday, a police spokesman said. 

The man is alleged to have shot dead Michael Winchester, 52, a Southwest Airlines employee.

Police Captain Paco Balderrama told reporters during a press conference that the gunman lay in wait in the employee parking area and appeared to know his victim's schedule and routine.

"This individual went there and waited for the employee to either be coming or going to take this opportunity," Balderrama said.

The shooting prompted authorities to shut down the airport for several hours and divert incoming flights as they searched for the gunman. There were initial concerns he may have entered the terminal and mingled with passengers or employees.

Hundreds of people were stranded inside the airport for three hours before they were allowed to leave.

Pictures from reporters on the scene showed all roads around the airport blocked off.

KOCO reporter Jonathan Cooper also said he witnessed "FBI personnel, detectives, the bomb squad and tactical teams arrive on scene."

The Will Rogers World Airport is the main commercial hub for Oklahoma City - the capital of the US state of Oklahoma - and provides an average of 150 flights per day, according to the airport.

rs,nm/se (AP, dpa, Reuters)