Police believe a gunman who opened fire at Los Angeles airport Friday acted alone, a police chief said, while not confirming reports that the shooter and one victim were killed.

“We believe at this point that there was a lone shooter, that he acted,” said Patrick Gannon, head of the LAX police force, saying he “was the only person who was armed in this incident.”

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Seven people were injured, including six taken to hospital, said the head of the LA Fire Department James Featherstone, briefing reporters for the first time a couple of hours after the incident.

Neither officer nor LA mayor Eric Garcetti would confirm reports that two people died the shooting, including the gunman and a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee.

The LA Times newspaper reported the two deaths, and cited sources saying the shooter was also believed to be a TSA employee at the airport.

One eyewitness recounted a shooter dressed in greyish-green clothing with an assault rifle opening fire as he went up an escalator and through a security check area.

Live TV footage showed armed police on the top of parking structures, apparently still looking for a possible gunman, while multiple ambulances were parked outside a terminal building.

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Flights were disrupted and a “ground stop” was put in place, but about an hour after the incident erupted aircraft could be landing at the airport, to the west of downtown Los Angeles.

Update, 4:32 p.m. EST: Both NBC News and the Associated Press reported that authorities identified the suspect as 23-year-old Paul Anthony Ciancia. Video of NBC’s report can be seen below.

Update, 4:37 p.m. EST: NBC also reported that Ciancia was allegedly carrying “anti-government materials” and was hospitalized after being shot by authorities prior to being captured. He is reportedly in critical condition.

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Update, 6:19 p.m. EST: WCAU-TV reported that Ciancia allegedly sent his younger brother a text Friday morning in which he discussed taking his own life. Authorities in Pennsville, New Jersey said Ciancia grew up there and only recently moved to Los Angeles.

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