Dallas police chief provides update on Love Field Airport shooting
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia says a female shooter opened fire inside Love Field Airport. The suspect was wounded and take into custody and no one else was hurt, according to police.
The accused female shooter at Dallas Love Field Airport has a lengthy criminal record and had previously told police that she was "God’s prophet" and was married to R&B singer-songwriter Chris Brown.
Over the past several years, 37-year-old Portia Odufuwa has faced charges including arson, robbery, criminal trespass and false reporting in cities across North Texas.
But in many of those incidents, judges deemed her incompetent to stand trial, she was referred to either or both inpatient or outpatient mental health services, and the cases were dismissed, The Dallas Morning News has reported. And as recently as last summer, a Dallas County judge ruled she was not a danger to others.
Before she allegedly changed clothes in the airport bathroom, pulled out a gun near a ticketing counter and opened fire into the ceiling at about 11 a.m. Monday, court records show Odufuwa had allegedly pulled a gun on a hotel front desk clerk in April 2021 at a time when she was homeless.
DALLAS POLICE ENGAGE FEMALE SHOOTER WHO OPENED FIRE BY AIRPORT TICKETING COUNTER
This mugshot shows accused Dallas Love Field Airport shooter Portia Odufuwa. (Dallas County Sheriff's Office)
The woman provided the address of rapper Chris Brown’s mansion to police after the incident, but Dallas County Judge Kristin Wade dismissed the false report case by November even though Odufuwa "did not successfully complete the program" when deemed incompetent to stand trial, according to county court records reviewed by the newspaper. She was supposed to continue mental health services elsewhere.
In October 2019, Odufuwa was arrested in Mesquite, Texas, when officers responded to a house fire, and the woman, who was found standing outside watching the flames, reportedly told police she intentionally set it ablaze and had returned after doing so several times before without ever successfully fully burning the residence where she once lived to the ground.
Travelers walk to a parking area outside of Dallas Love Field Airport, Monday, July 25, 2022, after a woman fired several gunshots, apparently at the ceiling. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
"I am God’s prophet, and I need an attorney, but I’m basically letting you all know that I am the cause of this fire," she told responding officers, according to court records.
Odufuwa also allegedly told police that she would not give more details until she could speak with her husband, whom she identified as Brown. She was not married to the rapper.
In April 2019, Odufuwa was accused of a bank robbery in Wylie, Texas, after waltzing into a Bank of America and displaying a note demanding an undisclosed amount of money.
A crime scene response vehicle arrives at Dallas Love Field in Dallas, Monday, July 25, 2022, after a woman allegedly opened fire by a ticketing counter inside. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Customers were evacuated to a safe location, and officers caught up with Odufuwa nearby as she attempted to flee the scene.
The woman was found incompetent for trial and underwent inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Crowds of travelers either fled or ducked for cover when Odufuwa opened fire at the airport Monday, according to reports.
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An officer already in the non-secure area by a ticket counter engaged the suspect, shooting her in the lower extremities, Dallas police said. Odufuwa was taken into custody and brought to a nearby hospital.
No travelers or police officers were hurt in the incident, which still resulted in TSA having to evacuate all travelers from the terminals and late re-screening everyone, causing major delays.
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