OKLAHOMA CITY — Police are searching for a suspect who killed a Southwest Airlines employee on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 15) at Will Rogers World Airport.
Michael Winchester, 52, has been identified as the victim, KFOR reported. He was shot around 12:50 p.m. at the airport parking garage, and officials announced he passed away from his injuries around 3:30 p.m.
The Oklahoma City police released a plan to get people who were trapped in the airport to safety. After the shooting, police closed the airport to investigate and asked passengers to shelter in place.
The airport will remain closed until further notice, KFOR reported. Airport officials said all arrivals and departures have been suspended until further notice.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating the shooting and searching for the suspect.
Officers said they have not positively identified the suspect, and are not releasing details about the suspect at this time.
Southwest Airlines confirmed that Winchester was an employee. They released the following statement on Tuesday afternoon:
“It is with great sorrow that Southwest Airlines confirms that a Southwest Employee who was injured during a shooting incident today at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City has died from injuries. We continue to work with the local authorities investigating this incident. As a result of the police investigation, local flight operations have been halted. We’re working to accommodate Customers still in the airport when it was locked down as well as cancelling flights departing from Oklahoma City for the remainder of the day. The Southwest Airlines Family is deeply saddened by the passing of our Southwest Family Member, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies and support to his family and Southwest Co-workers at this time.”
Winchester was a punter for the Oklahoma Sooners when they won the 1985 national championship.
To read more about the shooting on our affiliate KFOR’s website, click here.
