Father of Chiefs Long Snapper James Winchester Shot Dead at Oklahoma City Airport

The suspected shooter was found dead in a pickup truck within a garage on the airport grounds shortly after Winchester's father was killed.

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Complex Original

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Tragic news has struck the Kansas City Chiefs organization and the family of the team's second-year long snapper James Winchester. His father, Mike Winchester, 52, was reportedly shot to death at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Tuesday.

Winchester was a employee of Southwest Airlines. Local police and airport officials had the airport complex on lockdown following the shooting that occurred at 1 p.m., which caused 25 flights to be canceled. The police later found the suspected shooter dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities declared airport operations resumed as of 6:30 p.m.

James Winchester's agent tweeted his condolences for the loss of his client's father.

The Kansas City Chiefs did the same from the team's Twitter account.

An investigation has begun for the motive of the shooting. Oklahoma City Police Department Capt. Paco Balderrama stated that Mike Winchester was working at the time of the murder. They have not yet determined whether the suspect and Winchester knew each other. Southwest Airlines also released a statement about the homicide and the untimely loss of their employee, via CBS Dallas/Fort Worth:

It is with great sorrow that Southwest Airlines confirms that a Southwest Employee who was injured during a shooting incident today at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City has died from injuries. We continue to work with the local authorities investigating this incident. As a result of the police investigation, local flight operations have been halted. We're working to accommodate Customers still in the airport when it was locked down as well as canceling flights departing from Oklahoma City for the remainder of the day. The Southwest Airlines Family is deeply saddened by the passing of our Southwest Family Member, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies and support to his family and Southwest Co-workers at this time.

Both Winchester and his father played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners.

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