A Transportation Security Administration agent was killed and several more people wounded when a gunman opened fire Friday morning at Los Angeles International Airport.

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as 23-year-old Paul Ciancia, the Associated Press reported. According to public records obtained by Yahoo News, Ciancia has a known address in Pennsville, N.J., about 15 miles from Wilmington, Del.

The AP says that Ciancia had contacted his brother via text message on Friday saying he was considering suicide. Ciancia's father contacted law enforcement officials in Los Angeles who reportedly made an unsuccessful attempt to make contact with Ciancia before the shooting. As recently as Thursday, Ciancia's roommates reportedly told local police that Ciancia was fine.

Ciancia was wearing fatigues and carrying a bag containing a hand-written note that said he "wanted to kill TSA and pigs," an official, who was briefed on the investigation and requested anonymity because was he was not authorized to speak publicly, told the AP.

The TSA confirmed the death of the agent in a statement: "Earlier this morning, a shooting occurred at Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport," a TSA spokesman said. "Multiple Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) were shot, one fatally. Additional details will be addressed by the FBI and local law enforcement who are investigating the shooting."

A spokesperson for the American Federation of Government Employees tells Yahoo News that it is the first time a TSA officer has been killed in the line of duty. According to the spokesperson, the killed TSA officer was dressed in plainclothes and was a "behavior detection officer," who was charged with spotting suspicious behavior in the airport.

LAX airport police Chief Patrick Gannon said at a press conference that policed tracked the suspect "through the airport and engaged him in gunfire in Terminal 3" and were able to successfully take him into custody. 

Eyewitness Nick Pugh told local affiliate KNBC-TV he "heard a total of maybe eight to 10 shots fired in maybe two bursts. Everyone dropped to the floor and started crawling along the crowd.” And Tory Belecci, another witness, said the suspect appeared to be carrying a rifle, possibly an assault rifle.

Gannon added, "We believe, at this point, that there was a lone shooter. That he was the only person armed in this incident.”

Jim Featherstone, acting Los Angeles fire chief, added that officials had treated seven patients and transported six to area hospitals.

Authorities declined to provide any information during the press conference on the identities or conditions of those wounded, and they provided no information on the condition of the shooter.

The UCLA Medical Center released a statement saying it is currently treating three injured individuals from the incident. One arrived in critical condition and two were listed in fair condition, the hospital said.

President Obama briefly commented on the shooting, telling reporters, "Obviously we’ve been monitoring and we’re concerned about it but we’ll let law enforcement officials address this.”

A male gunman opened fire in Terminal 3 around 9:20 a.m. PT, earlier reports said, and one TSA agent was reportedly shot in the leg at a security checkpoint area. TSA spokesman Nico Melendez confirmed that at least one TSA officer was shot during the incident.

During the press conference, Gannon said authorities had run through the "exact" scenario that played out at LAX on Friday, which helped them to respond effectively to the situation when it unfolded for real.

Officials said the authorities now have full control of security at LAX.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a full ground stop until the incident has been officially resolved.

Access to the airport has been temporarily shutdown on Century Boulevard, the main road leading into LAX. In addition, all flights are reportedly delayed.

Another eyewitness, Brian Adamick, 43, told the Los Angeles Times that one TSA officer who was shot did not appear to be seriously injured. “I got shot, I’m fine," the unnamed TSA agent reportedly told Adamick and other witnesses on the scene. Remarkably, the agent reportedly reassured witnesses by saying he had been shot before and that the wound was not life-threatening.