By Rachel Quigley and Louise Boyle
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Mythbusters stars Grant Imahara and Tory Belleci were caught up in the chaotic scenes that unfolded earlier today at LAX after a gunman opened fire inside Terminal 3, killing one TSA agent and injuring several others.
At least three other people were injured after the gunman opened fire on a TSA agent at a security checkpoint, pumping out at least ten rounds, according to reports.
The terminal was evacuated shortly before 10am (PST) as terrified passengers fled the terminal and lounges were placed on lock down.
The Mythbusters stars were among the terrified passengers and Belleci tweeted several photos of the mayhem.
He posted on Twitter: 'Shooters in #LAX That was f***ing terrifying! ... Heard gun shots then everyone starting running for the door.'
Terrified: Mythbusters stars Grant Imahara, left, and Tory Belleci were caught up in the chaotic scenes that unfolded earlier today at LAX after a gunman opened fire inside Terminal 3
Tory Belleci tweeted a photo of the mayhem on Twitter and wrote: 'Shooters in #LAX That was f***ing terrifying! ... Heard gun shots then everyone starting running for the door'
Grant Imahara tweeted: 'I was in the Virgin lounge upstairs. Saw everyone pour out of the terminal onto the tarmac. Then I heard shots fired outside ... Virgin promptly locked the lounge doors. About ten minutes later, LAPD armed with automatic weapons arrived to secure the area.'
Imahara tweeted: 'I was in the Virgin lounge upstairs. Saw everyone pour out of the terminal onto the tarmac. Then I heard shots fired outside ... Virgin promptly locked the lounge doors. About ten minutes later, LAPD armed with automatic weapons arrived to secure the area.'
Fire crews were seen laying red, yellow and green mats outside the terminal building. The colored tarp is typically used as a triage area suggesting there were mass casualties.
Dozens of ambulances, police cars and other tactical response vehicles were on the scene as officers rushed toward the terminal with weapons drawn.
First came the gunfire. Then people including me hiding our seats. It felt very Columbine. A new kind of fear, at least for me
— Bill Reiter (@foxsportsreiter) November 1, 2013
John Forstrom, who was in the terminal at the time, tweeted: '#lax passenger just told us he saw person casually walk into terminal with rifle. Just started shooting.'
Witness Nick Pugh told NBC Los Angeles: ‘We were just standing there and someone started shooting. I heard a total of maybe eight or 10 shots fired.’
Fox Sports reporter Bill Reiter tweeted the chaotic scenes throughout: 'First came the gunfire. Then people including me hiding our seats. It felt very Columbine. A new kind of fear, at least for me.'
'After the initial burst of gunfire and hiding, people started jumping over one another, jumping off chairs, pushing each other. Chaos & fear.'
Witness pictures: John Forstrom, who was in the terminal at the time, tweeted: '#lax passenger just told us he saw person casually walk into terminal with rifle. Just started shooting.'
Mayhem: Los Angeles International Airport is locked down today following reports of a shooting at a security checkpoint
Evacuation: People walk from the terminal with their hands on their heads after the airport was evacuated following the shooting on Friday
Fox Sports reporter Bill Reiter who was at terminal tweeted: 'First came the gunfire. Then people including me hiding our seats. It felt very Columbine. A new kind of fear, at least for me.'
Passenger John Forstrom tweeted: 'Colleague walks closer to see what is going on and TSA person runs at him with look of terror. Colleague turns to me and says run!'
'We start running and another TSA person yells there is someone shooting. We sprint into runway. So surreal.'
'#lax passenger just told us he saw person casually walk into terminal with rifle. Just started shooting.'
Terrified passengers had to be escorted through the crime scene to safety after the area was secured, where empty gun cartridges lay on the ground. One passenger told NBC he saw a stain that he thought might be blood.
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