TSA Officer Injured During LAX Shooting Says He "Came To Protect People"
Tony Grigsby
A Transportation Security Administration officer who was wounded in the deadly shooting rampage at Los Angeles International Airport said he was more interested in helping others than worrying about his safety.
Tony Grigsby, 36, was shot twice in the right foot during Friday's attack, and on Monday he fought back tears outside his Los Angeles home as he recounted the moment he came face-to-face with the gunman.
"I was injured while helping an elder man trying to get to a safe area. I turned around, and there was a gun and he shot me twice," Grigsby said.
Grigsby, who has worked for the TSA for the last six years, said all he could think about was helping panicked passengers get to safety, despite his injuries.
"All I could think about was helping them. I may be injured right now, but the concern was really to take care of you," he said. "I'm just a regular person. I'm not here for no fame or glory. I came to protect people."
Grigsby remembered fellow TSA agent Gerardo Hernandez, who was killed in the shooting.
"Only now it has hit me that I will never see him again," Grigsby said.
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hero of the nation!!!
If I was going to go berserk on TSA agents it would be at LAX. All the worst TSA moments I've had have been there. I remember waiting in line for an hour in what I thought was baggage check in, and it was just a TSA agent at the end of the line who looked at your suit case for two minutes and then pointed you to another half an hour line to check in.
I'm not saying anyone deserved it. Just that this probably wouldn't have happened at BWI or some half way civilized airport.