Neil, where does it say that he took a shuttle bus?!!
It says that he 'was dropped off at the airport'. Meaning that his friend dropped him off at the terminal.
Sorry, I was just thinking of how I go to LAX sometimes. If I had
been there that day I would have been thinking that (shuttle bus).
Anyway, I've heard 3 reports that say the "bag" was not a garment bag
but a DUFFEL bag:
The .223 cal. rifle is a partially KD version and it's quickly re-assembled.
He carried it into the terminal area in the duffel bag, then pulled it out
and stuck the parts together, then started shooting.
And all 3 reports said he was "dropped off" by his room mate at the curb
and walked in alone into the terminal area. His room mate said he had
had no advance request for the ride, nor did he know where the guy
(the shooter) was planning to fly to. It sounds like they had terrible
communication skills!!
When you go from the drop-off curb to the DEPARTURES area, you can
either go to check-in and check luggage and get a boarding pass, or you
can go directly to the queue to be screened, which goes up an escalator.
There are TSA agents below and above the escalator. You can also go
into an elevator or a stairway, but at the second floor you are not allowed
to go to the terminal area because there are barricades set up and
scowling TSA people all around there. If you are handicapped, though,
you can bypass the escalator. For that you generally need a wheelchair
or be using a CANE. I'm thinking maybe this guy had a cane, but they're
not saying that to prevent putting out the idea. He could have just
dropped the cane before he started his shooting spree.
But even when handicapped, you're not allowed to bypass the screening
area unless you're a TSA worker. I'm not seeing any reports that say
he had a TSA shirt or jacket or whatever.
TSA are the antithesis of customer service.
.