The woman who allegedly opened fire at Dallas Love Field Airport on Monday has a years-long criminal record that includes arson and robbery, and she once told police that she was “God’s prophet” and claimed she was married to rapper Chris Brown.
Throughout North Texas, Portia Odufuwa, 37, was previously charged with robbery, arson, criminal trespass and false reporting. However, judges often determined she was unfit to stand trial, referred her to mental health services and dismissed her cases, Fox News reported Tuesday.
Last summer, a Dallas County judge ruled that she was not a danger to others.
In April 2021, Odufuwa allegedly used a gun to threaten a hotel front desk clerk. After her arrest, she gave police the address of rapper Chris Brown. A judge eventually deemed her incompetent to stand trial, and she was referred to mental health services. She “did not successfully complete the program” but the false reporting case was still dismissed.
In October 2019, officers responded to a house fire in Mesquite, Texas, and found Odufuwa outside watching the flames. She reportedly told police that she set the fire after multiple previous failed attempts to burn the house down.
“I am God’s prophet, and I need an attorney, but I’m basically letting you all know that I am the cause of this fire,” she said, according to police. She then said that she could not provide any additional details until she could speak with her husband, whom she again falsely claimed was Brown.
Odufuwa was accused of robbing a bank in Wylie, Texas, earlier that same year after she entered a Bank of America with a note demanding money.
The bank was evacuated and officers arrested Odufuwa despite her attempts to flee. Once again, a judge found her incompetent for trial and ordered her to undergo inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters Monday afternoon that a woman later identified as Odufuwa entered Dallas Love Field Airport and changed into a hoodie in the bathroom before opening fire with a handgun.
“This morning at about 10:59 [local time], a 37-year-old woman gets dropped off, goes inside near the ticket counters in front of Southwest, goes at one point into a restroom, exits the restroom, now she’s put some sort of hoodie on or some other different type of clothing that she had when she walked in,” Chief Garcia said. “At some point, simultaneously, one of our officers is in the area. She produces a handgun and begins firing.”
“As she’s doing that, our officer engages the suspect, strikes her in the lower extremities,” he added.
Odufuwa was taken into custody and transported to Parkland Hospital. No other individuals were injured during the incident.