PORTLAND, Ore. — In a disturbing incident at Portland International Airport last year, a woman discharged a firearm into the terminal’s ceiling before surrendering to authorities. Local officials recently disclosed that the shooter, Laura Patterson, 48, of Kennewick, Washington, expressed her actions were a desperate bid for intervention to prevent her from harming her family members residing in another state.
A Multnomah County jury has since convicted Patterson on multiple indictments, including unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm, possession of a loaded firearm in public places, and reckless endangerment. This verdict followed a trial spanning from November 18 to November 21, 2023.
The episode unfolded on November 14, 2023, as travelers at the pre-security area of the airport’s D and E concourse were startled by the sound of gunfire. Eyewitness reports and security footage revealed that Patterson fired two shots into the airport ceiling using a handgun. After the act, she placed the weapon on the ground where Port of Portland police apprehended her without further incident.
During the arrest, Patterson was found with an alarming assortment of items including 100 rounds of ammunition, her passport, several changes of clothing, camping equipment, expired driver’s licenses from various states, and different vehicle license plates.
Property damage from the incident was significant, with one bullet piercing a glass window of the terminal ceiling, resulting in approximately $7,900 in damages. Before this attack, surveillance records also captured Patterson sitting idly for hours near the ticket counters, indicating a possibly premeditated plan. Despite her subsequent actions at the airport, she clarified that her intentions did not involve flying out from PDX.
Patterson remains detained and awaits her sentencing scheduled for December 19, 2024. This case highlights the broader challenges of gun control and mental health issues within public safety contexts, reflecting an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address such crises effectively.
This alarming incident at Portland International Airport serves as a stark reminder of the potential volatility in seemingly secure public spaces. It underscores the need for stringent security protocols and the importance of attentive crisis intervention practices in preventing such public threats.
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