US machete attacker shot dead by cops at New Orleans airport was 'mentally-ill'

Kenner: A sexagenarian miscreant armed with a machete, who was shot dead after he tried to raid a security checkpoint at New Orleans international airport, is said to have been mentally ill, reports said Sunday.

The man was also said to have been carrying a bag full of six Molotov cocktails, revealed Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand during a press conference.

Also, his car that was parked near the airport, contained smoke bombs and several canisters, including an oxygen tank.

Talking about the possible motive behind the attack, Normand said it was yet to be confirmed however White's family mentioned of him suffering with "a mental illness".

The man who has been identified as a 63-year-old Richard White was shot three times by a female officer after he tried to chase an unarmed Transportation Security Administration agent at the airport.

Sheriff Newell Normand said earlier that investigators discovered after the shooting that White had been carrying a bag loaded with Molotov cocktails: six Mason jars with cloth wicks soaked in gasoline.

There was also a barbeque lighter and a letter opener in the bag, Normand said at a news conference at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Residue from smoke bombs was also found near White's body. White had dropped the bag during the attack.

The sheriff said White had a history of mental health problems but investigators were trying to determine the nature and extent of those problems. His family has been cooperating with the investigation.

White was a Jehovah's Witness and had refused "certain types of medical care," Normand said.

"Fortunately, he didn't seriously injure anybody," Normand said.

Authorities also found smoke bombs and tanks of acetylene, Freon and oxygen in the trunk of his car, Normand said, but investigators didn't know what, if anything, White intended to do with the materials. Normand said White is believed to be a former taxi driver, but added that investigators are still examining a variety of sources and databases to obtain his employment and criminal history.

Normand said White sprayed the unarmed Transportation Security Administration agents and several passengers in line at the checkpoint with wasp killer. He then drew a large machete from the waistband of his pants. A male TSA agent blocked the machete with a piece of luggage as White ran through a metal detector.

White chased TSA agent Carroll Richel while swinging the machete. They were heading toward Lt. Heather Slyve of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, who drew her weapon and fired three times as White quickly gained ground on Richel, Normand said.

One bullet is believed to have gone through Richel's right upper arm and hit White. Richel credited Slyve with saving her life.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said a review of security procedures will follow, adding that such is standard after any emergency.

Normand, Landrieu and TSA Acting Administrator Mel Carraway addressed reporters during a news conference at the airport, which is owned by the city of New Orleans but located in the city of Kenner in neighboring Jefferson Parish. They praised the work of TSA officials who helped usher passengers away from the unfolding danger, as well as the law enforcement officials providing security and investigating the incident.

With Agency Inputs