New Orleans international airport (Photo : Twitter/@abc3340)
The machete-wielding man identified as Richard White who was shot during his bizarre rampage at New Orleans international airport was reported dead on Saturday afternoon, not long after the authorities said that he had been carrying a bag of Molotov cocktails as well when the melee began.
White had been shot on Friday night as he chased an unarmed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent with a machete. He ran in the direction of an officer, who drew her gun and fired three times hitting him in the face, chest, and leg. White died at 4:02 PM Saturday, according to ABC News.
Investigators found out after the shooting incident that White had been carrying a bag full of Molotov cocktails-six Mason jars with cloth wicks soaked in gasoline, said Sheriff Newell Normand.
Along with the Molotov cocktails, the investigators also discovered a barbeque lighter and a letter opener in White's bag. Normand also said at a news conference that there were residue from smoke bombs that were found near White's body.
Normand said that White had a history of mental health problems. However, the investigators are trying to find out the nature and extent of problems he has had. Meanwhile, White's family is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
The sheriff also added that White was a Jehovah's Witness, and he had refused certain types of treatment.
The authorities felt very fortunate that White did not injure anybody critically, Normand said as reported by Buzz Feed News.
In the course of searching, the investigators also found smoke bombs as well as tanks of acetylene, Freon and oxygen in the trunk of White's car. However, Normand said that the investigators did not know what he intended to do with the materials found. According to the investigations, White used to be a taxi driver, but the investigators are still on the process of going through a variety of sources and databases in order to get his employment and criminal history.
White sprayed wasp killer on unarmed TSA agents and several passengers in line at the checkpoint. He then drew a machete from the waistband of his pants. One TSA agent was able to block his machete with a piece of luggage as White ran through the airport's metal detector.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Lt. Heather Slyve then drew her weapon and fired at White. Another officer, however was accidentally struck in the arm by a bullet.
Normand said that the situation could have been much worse if White had not been stopped in that instant.
