Airport Officer Fires Shots at Car Outside Terminal

A Burbank Airport police officer fired an undisclosed number of shots at a fleeing car outside the United Airlines terminal Tuesday afternoon.

There were no injuries reported from the incident, which began shortly before 2 p.m. when rental car agency clerks called police for undisclosed reasons. The clerks had been dealing with a man at the counter at the time.

An officer responded and question the man before the two moved outside and a scuffle began, airport spokesman Victor Gill said. The man escaped into a nearby car with a waiting driver and the car sped away, and the officer fired shots after them, Gill said.

Airport officials would not release further details on the incident or the name of the officer, and would only say he has been employed at the airport more than 10 years, according to spokesman Sean McCarthy. Alamo Car Rental employees confirmed the incident began at their desk just inside the door of the terminal, but would give no details.

The Airport Authority has its own 19-member police force. Officers are sworn peace officers who receive the same training as municipal police officers and who follow similar department policies, McCarthy said.

This is thought to be the first shooting incident involving airport police, he added.

Burbank city police are investigating the incident. Burbank Police Lt. Don Brown said the man is not believed to have fired back, but gave no further details.

The officer has been placed on administrative leave, Gill said.