SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- The city of Los Angeles can't be held liable for a terrorist shooting that left two people dead at Los Angeles International Airport nearly three years ago, a judge has ruled.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by families of the victims accused the city of failing to prevent the attack at an El Al ticket counter on July 4, 2002.
U.S. District Judge Alicemarie Stotler said in a ruling released Monday that governments can't generally be sued for injuries caused by third parties.
Hesham Mohamed Ali Hadayet, a limo driver and Egyptian immigrant, opened fire at the counter and attacked a guard with a knife before he was shot and killed by an airline security guard.
El Al employee Victoria Hen and passenger Yaakov Aminov were killed. Four other people were wounded.
''This was a tragic event, but the only person responsible is the one who pulled the trigger,'' said Douglas Knoll, an attorney for the city.
The Justice Department determined that Hadayet, 41, had acted alone and called the shooting an act of terrorism related to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Richard I. Fine, who represents the families, said an appeal was planned.
