Armed Man at Orlando International Airport in Custody After 3-Hour Standoff With Police

By Jenn Jacques

A ‘mentally distressed’ man armed with a fake gun entered the Orlando International Airport Tuesday attempting to commit ‘suicide by cop’ was taken into custody peacefully following a 3-hour standoff with police.

“Our negotiators did a phenomenal job of talking with the subject for about two hours and finally got him to peacefully surrender,” Orlando Police Chief John Mina said.

The incident was first reported in Terminal A at approximately 7:24 p.m. and authorities closed the terminal off, keeping travelers moving through Terminal B as the standoff continued.

“Our employees did everything in accordance with what OPD has trained them to do,” Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Chairman Frank Kruppenbacher said. “You couldn’t have a better resolution. No one was hurt. The airport continued to operate on the other side.”

Authorities said the man was “a mentally distressed former Marine” and shouted at police, begging them to “shoot me, shoot me”.

Michael Wayne Pettigrew, 26, was in “mental distress” when police surrounded him at the rental car area of the airport, authorities said. He pointed what looked like a real gun at officers and himself, authorities said.

In a video taken from the airport, an officer can be heard telling Pettigrew, “You’re not going to …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms