Police: Armed man at Orlando airport in custody; no one hurt

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla.

Authorities believe a gunman reported at the Orlando International Airport was attempting to commit “suicide by cop.”

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said during a news conference Tuesday night that 26-year-old Michael Wayne Pettigrew’s gun had actually been a replica firearm. Officers who responded to the airport’s car-rental area earlier that evening said Pettigrew was trying to get officers to shoot him.

Once the area was evacuated and Pettigrew was surrounded, Mina said a crisis negotiator was able to get Pettigrew to surrender without shots being fired. Mina says Pettigrew, a former Marine, was being held for a mental evaluation but also faces aggravated assault charges.

No one was hurt, but the terrifying situation created confusion and uncertainty as travelers posted video and photos online showing police at the airport with their weapons drawn.

“Gunman is in custody. Everyone is safe,” Orlando police tweeted shortly after 10 p.m.

Glorializ Colsn Plaza, 20, told the Orlando Sentinel she was just getting off work from Virgin Atlantic airlines when she saw everyone hiding.

She got off the elevator and saw the man on the floor near the rental-car area. He was screaming, and cops had surrounded him.

“I couldn’t make out the words, but he was screaming really loud,” she said. “Everyone there told me right before this happened a man said to everyone: ‘You’re going to need mental therapy after this,’ then he pulled out a gun and everyone ran.”

Plaza said she didn’t hear any gunshots or see anyone injured.

“I saw all the cops with the long rifles and started shaking,” she said. “It didn’t seem real.”

Earlier this year, authorities say an Alaska man killed five people inside a baggage-claim area at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.