Traffic returns to normal after gunman arrested at Orlando International Airport, police say

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — All roads to Orlando International Airport have reopened after a gunman was taken into custody on the A side of the airport in the rental car area, airport officials said Tuesday.

Michael Wayne Pettigrew, 26, of Orlando, was taken into custody shortly after 10 p.m., Orlando police said.

Everyone is safe, police said.

Entrances are open at the airport, but it is congested, airport officials said.

Contact the airline for the latest flight status, officials said.

An employee at a rental car company at the airport told Channel 9 he heard shots fired and the area he was in had been locked down around 7:30 p.m. However police said no shots were fired.

Pettigrew is accused of pointing a simulated gun at officers, but police did not realize the gun was fake until he was taken into custody, officials said.

Pettigrew, who served in the military in 2009-2012, told officers several times to kill him and also pointed the simulated gun on himself, police said. After two hours of negotiations, he was safely taken into custody.

Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement: "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 (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) 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."

Watch OPD Chief John Mina discuss arrest of gunman:

<em><strong>Watch below for video of the scene at Orlando International Airport:</strong></em>

Cox Media Group