The family of a security officer killed during the November shooting at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) filed a $25 million claim against the City, it was announced April 25. The claim reportedly alleges failures by city and airport employees “created a dangerous lapse in security.”
Attorneys for the city declined to comment on the claim, which was filed April 16 on behalf of the wife and two children of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer Gerardo Hernandez. A claim is a precursor to a lawsuit.
The 39-year-old security screener was killed Nov. 1 when a gunman shot his way past security and into the passenger area of Terminal 3. Three other people were injured. The alleged gunman, Paul Anthony Ciancia, 24, is awaiting trial on federal charges, including murder.
According to the claim submitted by Hernandez family attorney Michael Alder, the city, Los Angeles World Airports and Airport Police “failed to properly hire, supervise, train, staff and plan for the protection” of employees and other people at LAX.
City employees also prevented or delayed providing medical care to Hernandez, according to the claim, which was filed on behalf of Hernandez’s 35-year-old widow Ana Z. Machuco, and his two children, 14-year-old Luis and 11-year-old Stephanie.
The damages are being sought due to the “wrongful death of Gerardo Hernandez causing loss of support to his wife and children, all of whom further suffered loss of love, affection, care, comfort, society, companionship and guidance of their husband and father,” according to the claim.
An 83-page report released last month pointed out failures in communication and coordination between police and fire departments that led to delays in the establishment of a unified command center after the shooting. The various agencies also could not effectively communicate due to incompatible radio systems, the report found.
The report made dozens of recommendations aimed at bolstering security and emergency response, and warned that the Nov. 1 shooting could have been far deadlier if the perpetrator had been more sophisticated or if there had been multiple suspects.
