At least 5 TSA officers transported for injuries after man rushes security checkpoint
PHOENIX AZ June 19 2019 — At least five TSA officers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport are being treated after a man attempted to rush a security checkpoint in Terminal 4.
The TSA says the incident happened Tuesday morning around 9:45 a.m.
The man was unprovoked and attempted to rush through the security at Terminal 4, according to a release.
TSOs and officers with the Phoenix Police Department assigned to the airport immediately responded and subdued the individual.
The man arrested has been identified as 19-year-old Tyrese Garner. Neither police nor TSA has released a motive in the incident.
One TSO was taken to the hospital and at least four others were taken to an urgent care facility. Their exact injuries and conditions are unknown at this time.
“Got done putting my shoes on and was walking down the hallway part there and all of a sudden I heard screaming and hollering,” said witness Donnie Jones, who had just passed through security when the incident occurred.
Jones told ABC15 he’s unsure what prompted the man to allegedly try and rush through the checkpoint.
“When he was coming over that counter…he was like jumping at somebody and you could just see a bunch of swinging and that and you couldn’t really tell what was going on,” he said. “I don’t know what his deal was. It was just an unhappy guy rushing through there.”
TSA released the following statement on the incident:
“This unprovoked and brazen physical attack against our TSOs is unacceptable. We are grateful for our committed workforce and for the role they play in protecting the traveling public every day. We continue to monitor the safety and health of the TSOs involved in this incident and will cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.”