Miami airport attack kills 5, sows panic
Veteran of war in Iraq opens fire at baggage claim area
MIAMI— An Iraq war veteran opened fire on Friday at Fort Lauderdale’s main airport, a major tourist hub in Florida, killing five people and injuring eight, as panicked travelers fled for safety.
The suspect, identified by police as 26-year-old Esteban Santiago, was in custody and being questioned by the FBI over the shooting that shut down the international airport that is a gateway to the Caribbean.
The attack occurred in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2, as passengers collecting their luggage were interrupted by the alleged gunman, who withdrew a semi-automatic handgun before mowing down his victims.
Video showed passengers running for safety.
Santiago had traveled from Alaska to Fort Lauderdale, with a stopover in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the special agent in charge of Miami’s FBI field office, George Piro, told reporters late Friday.
“We’re looking at several investigative leads,” said Piro.
He was detained without law enforcement firing any shots, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters.
In November, Santiago had walked into the FBI’s Anchorage office exhibiting “erratic behavior” that led agents to contact local police, who took him to a medical facility for a mental health evaluation, Piro said.
Santiago, a former member of the Puerto Rico and Alaska National Guard, served in Iraq from April 2010 to February 2011. He ended his service in August.
Hours after the shooting, many passengers still huddled inside the airport awaiting the all-clear order.
“We’ve had dozens and dozens of busses transporting what we anticipate to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 folks,” airport director Mark Gale said.
Gale said the airport, which had suspended all activity, had aimed to be operational hours later.
In addition to those killed and wounded, up to 40 people went to the hospital for various other injuries such as falling and sprains, authorities said.
Cell phone video footage broadcast by the local Fox television affiliate showed one person lying bloodied on the floor, and several others on their knees.