Alleged LAX Gunman Ordered To Be Held Without Bail During First Court Appearance
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The 23-year-old Sun Valley man suspected in the shooting spree at Los Angeles International Airport made his first court appearance Wednesday.
Paul Anthony Ciancia, who was not asked to enter a plea, was ordered to be held without bond at the 11 a.m. arraignment at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. The judge determined he posed a flight risk and danger to the community.
The New Jersey native has been charged with murder and committing violence at an airport following the Nov. 1 incident at LAX. He is suspected of opening fire inside Terminal 3, killing Transportation Security Administration Officer Gerardo Hernandez and wounding several others before airport police shot him in the head and leg.
Hernandez, 39, was a father of two and became the first TSA agent to be killed in the line of duty.
Ciancia was transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he spent more than two weeks before he was released to U.S. Marshals Service.
During the arraignment, Ciancia was apprised of his rights and the court confirmed he has seen the criminal complaint filed against him on Nov. 2.
If convicted of all charges, Ciancia could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Dec. 18, unless he is indicted prior to that date, and an arraignment was scheduled to take place Dec. 26 in the United States District Court.
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