Students of teacher wounded in LAX shooting to protest gun violence
Students of a Calabasas High School teacher who was wounded during the shooting rampage at Los Angeles International Airport plan to walk out of their classes Tuesday to protest gun violence and support his recovery.
Brian Ludmer, 29, was upgraded to “good” condition this week at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after he was shot in the leg Friday while attempting to flee the shooter, identified by police as 23-year-old Paul Anthony Ciancia.
Hospital officials on Monday said Ludmer will need at least one more surgery “for a leg fractured by a bullet wound,” as well as extensive physical therapy.
“We know he’s going through a lot and needs a lot of donations because his medical bills are really rising quickly,” student Sam Kaufman told KTLA-TV.
After Ludmer was shot, he managed to crawl to a closet and make a tourniquet before first responders reached him.
Ciancia remained in critical condition after being wounded by LAX police as he allegedly shot his way through Terminal 3 shortly after 9 a.m. Friday, authorities said. Ciancia was shot in the head and a leg.
Transportation Security Administration agent Gerardo Hernandez, 39, was killed and at least two other agency employees and a civilian were wounded by gunfire.
Besides the gunman, Ludmer is the only other shooting victim who remains in the hospital, officials said.
Ludmer was on his way Friday to celebrate a friend’s wedding over the weekend when he heard gunshots inside Terminal 3 and “people were running everywhere,” Las Virgenes schools Supt. Dan Stepenosky told The Times.
As the gunman took aim, Ludmer turned to run and dived away, but was struck at least once in the leg, Stepenosky said. He dragged himself into a closet, closed the door and hunkered down, fearing the worst.
C.J. Foss, principal at Calabasas High School, told KTLA that Ludmer said “he thought he was going to die.”
“It was really scary, because, how much more close to home could it get?” Kaufman told KTLA, describing his reaction to news of the shooting. “It felt really personal.”
The class walkout is scheduled for 12:19 p.m., when students plan to rally on the campus quad.
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