On a Friday evening in March 2015, a startling act of violence unfolded at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, Louisiana. Richard White, a 63-year-old male, launched a sudden and chaotic attack at a security checkpoint. The incident began when White approached the checkpoint and was asked for his boarding pass. In response, he sprayed a TSA agent with wasp killer.
The situation escalated quickly as White then produced a machete and began swinging it, striking
a female TSA agent and chasing another. Amidst the panic and confusion, a Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputy stationed at the checkpoint drew her weapon. She fired three shots, striking White and bringing the frightening assault to an end.
White was taken to a local hospital following the shooting, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead the following afternoon. Investigators later revealed the disturbing contents of a bag White had been carrying, which included six Molotov cocktails. A search of his vehicle uncovered further unsettling materials, including smoke bombs and tanks of acetylene and oxygen.
In the aftermath, authorities delved into White's background, uncovering a history of mental health issues. His family cooperated with the investigation, though a clear motive for the attack remained elusive. It was reported that White was a former taxi driver. As White was the sole perpetrator and died from injuries sustained during his own attack, there were no arrests or further suspects in the case. The incident concluded with White's death, leaving behind a community shaken by the unexpected violence.
