Homicide

Federal prosecutors to seek death penalty in case against suspect in fatal LA airport shooting

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the FBI shows Paul Ciancia. Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Ciancia, now 24, the man charged in a deadly shooting rampage at Los Angeles International Airport, according to court papers filed Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. Ciancia acted intentionally in the killing of an airport screening officer and terrorized passengers and colleagues of the fallen man, prosecutors said. Ciancia has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the killing of Gerardo Hernandez, 39, and the wounding of three other people at LAX on Nov. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/FBI, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2013 file photo provided to the AP, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, police officers stand near a weapon at Los Angeles International Airport after a gunman opened fire in the terminal. Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Paul Ciancia, now 24, the man charged in the deadly shooting rampage at LAX, according to court papers filed Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. Ciancia acted intentionally in the killing of an airport screening officer and terrorizing passengers and colleagues of the fallen man, prosecutors said. Ciancia has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the killing of Gerardo Hernandez, 39, and the wounding of three other people at LAX on Nov. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/File) (The Associated Press)

Federal prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against the man charged in a deadly shooting rampage at Los Angeles International Airport.

The U.S. attorney's office filed papers in court Friday announcing the decision to seek the execution of Paul Ciancia in the killing of a federal airport security officer.

Ciancia has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the killing of a Transportation Security Administration officer and the wounding of three other people at LAX in 2013.

The decision to seek the death penalty was up to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

Ciancia is due in court Monday for a hearing on the status of his case.

A judge wants the case to be tried this year, but the death penalty decision could delay it.