CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A gunman who committed suicide in Cape Town’s international airport was a South African police constable who got into an argument with a woman at an airport restaurant, police said Thursday.

The 33-year-old constable, Bonginkosi Makaula, went to the restaurant and spoke to his female partner on Wednesday evening, Police. Capt. Frederick van Wyk said in a statement. Makaula opened fire during the altercation, injuring the woman and two employees in the airport food court, and then shot himself, according to the statement.

“He was issued with his firearm at the police station when he reported for duty,” van Wyk said. “Measures are in place to regulate the afterhours authority of official firearms.”

The area was cordoned off after the shooting, but officials say there was minimal disruption to airport operations.

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