South Jersey Native Indicted on First Degree Murder in LAX Shootings

Paul Ciancia, the Pennsville native charged with murder in connection with the shooting at Los Angeles International Airport last month was indicted on 11 counts, including first degree murder, in the fatal shooting of a Transportation Security Administration Officer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office out of Los Angeles announced Tuesday evening.

Ciancia is charged in the murder of Gerardo Hernandez, an officer and employee of the United States, while Hernandez was engaged in his official duties on Nov. 1.

He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles.

He is also charged with attempted murder for shooting TSA Officers Tony Leroy Grigsby and James Maurice Speer, using a Smith & Wesson 5.56-millimeter M&P15 semiautomatic rifle in all three shootings.

He was charged with using the rifle to commit acts of violence against persons at an international airport. This includes Brian Donovan Ludmer, a civilian injured during the shootings.

The indictment includes one count alleging that Ciancia knowingly used a firearm to murder and cause death and three counts alleging that he did “knowingly carry, brandish, discharge and use a firearm” when he shot the three surviving victims.

His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 26.

Allegations of premeditation and the murder of a law enforcement officer included in the indictment mean Ciancia may face the death penalty if convicted. He could also be sentenced to life in prison, according to the Attorney’s Office.

The government has yet to make a decision on if it will pursue the death penalty.

The attempted murder charges and the each of the charges of violence against the surviving members carries sentences of up to 20 years in prison, and the charges of use of a firearm carries minimum sentences of 10 years in prison, to be served consecutive to any other sentence issued.

Ciancia is a Pennsville native who attended private school in Delaware and moved to southern California last year. He was 23 at the time of the shootings. He was placed in critical condition for 19 days following an incident with law enforcement officials during the shooting.