PHOENIX (TCN) — A heated family argument at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Christmas evening turned violent, leaving four people injured and two in custody. The unsettling incident happened in Terminal 4, prompting police to step in.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers arrived at the scene after reports of a shooting. They found an adult woman with life-threatening injuries and two men who were also hurt. The men were rushed to the hospital and are now in stable condition. Thankfully, no bystanders or other travelers were hurt.
Sgt. Mayra Reeson shared that the altercation involved five people, all of whom were part of the same group and knew each other. The dispute, which escalated quickly, took place before the individuals went through TSA security. She emphasized the importance of leaving weapons at home, saying, “I do not recommend bringing guns to an airport.”
In addition to the three injured individuals found inside the terminal, police located a man in the airport parking lot who had been stabbed. He was also taken to the hospital and is expected to recover. Along with him, a juvenile girl was detained as part of the investigation.
While police were handling the situation, another unsettling moment occurred. A 21-year-old man named Cole Nenon showed up at the airport, carrying firearms. According to Sgt. Reeson, Nenon had received a text message falsely claiming there was an active shooter at Sky Harbor. In reality, there was no such threat at any point.
Nenon handed his guns to an airport employee before police arrived, but things took a strange turn. When officers approached, he reportedly asked them to arrest him and then started shouting, “Kill me, kill me.” As his behavior became more aggressive, an officer had to push him to the ground. Nenon tried to fight back, punching the officer, but a bystander jumped in to help restrain him. Fortunately, the officer was not hurt.
Nenon’s actions were unrelated to the earlier family dispute. He was taken into custody and is now facing a charge of aggravated assault on a police officer.
The incident has left many travelers shaken during what should have been a festive holiday evening, but authorities have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat at the airport. Police are continuing to investigate both situations to piece together what happened.
