Police: Armed Man At Orlando International Airport Asked Cops To Shoot Him

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ORLANDO (CBSMiami) – Police confirm they have a suspect in custody after reports of an armed man in the car rental area of Orlando International Airport.

News first broke out at around 8:20 p.m. when the airport tweeted out there was a man with a weapon in one of the terminals.

Erik Sandoval, a reporter  of the CBS affiliate in Orlando, shared video of SWAT entering the airport.

Orlando police then tweeted out they had the suspect contained.

A crisis negotiator had been speaking to the suspect.

Nearly two hours later, police finally apprehended the gunman.

Police identified the gunman as 26-year-old Michael W. Pettigrew.

Authorities said Pettigrew was asking officers to shoot him and it turns out his gun was not real.

Pettigrew, who is former military, will be taken in for a mental health evaluation.

He faces one count of aggravated assault with a firearm on a LEO.

No shots were ever fired.

Gov. Rick Scott released the a statement regarding the incident. It read:

"I have remained in constant communication with City of Orlando Police Chief John Mina, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen, and FDLE Special Agent in Charge Danny Banks regarding the incident tonight at Orlando International Airport. I want to thank law enforcement for their quick response and efforts to put the suspect in custody and keep families safe. The people of Orlando are lucky to have such dedicated officers protecting them each day."

Social media users shared video of what the scene was like from outside and inside the airport.

The airport tweeted out Tuesday night that the FAA has placed a Traffic Management Program in effect for arriving flights.

Earlier this year, authorities arrested Esteban Santiago for shooting and killing five people inside a baggage claim area at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.