Killer’s bro blames FBI

THE UNHINGED ARMY veteran who flew 5,000 miles to execute five strangers at a Florida airport could face the death penalty for his baggage carousel killing spree.

Esteban Santiago, described by his brother as a walking time bomb, was charged with an act of violence resulting in death at an international airport — making him eligible for federal execution.

“(The) charges represent the gravity of the situation and reflect the commitment of federal, state and local law enforcement personnel to continually protect the community and prosecute those who target our residents and visitors,” said U.S Attorney Wifredo Ferrer.

A day after the massacre — the nation’s first mass shooting of 2017 — investigators were still stumped over why Santiago, 26, flew from his home in Alaska to target passengers at the Fort Lauderdale airport.

A federal complaint revealed the New Jersey-born Santiago told the investigators that his carnage was planned, right down to purchasing a one-way ticket to Florida.

As officials searched for a motive, Santiago’s brother said the assault could easily have been prevented if the FBI had stepped up and used a little common sense.

“We’re not talking about someone who emerged from anonymity to do something like this,” sibling Bryan Santiago told The Associated Press outside his family’s Puerto Rico home.

“The federal government already knew about this for months, they had been evaluating him for a while, but they didn’t do anything.”

Two months ago, Santiago sat in an FBI office in Anchorage, Alaska, claiming the CIA was forcing him to join ISIS. After he was evaluated for four days, Santiago was released without any medication or a follow-up plan.

“I told him to go to church or to seek professional help,” the brother said.

Anchorage Police Chief Chris Tolley told a Saturday news conference that Santiago was a troubled soul who was investigated four times last year by local cops.

The allegations ranged from domestic disturbance to an unverified strangling charge — and he was only arrested once.

Anchorage cops also held Santiago’s weapon for safekeeping after his bizarre Nov. 7 appearance at the FBI, and only returned the gun Dec. 8.

“There are speculations that this is the same gun (used in the killings),” said Tolley. “I have not received confirmation that it is in fact that gun.”

Another relative said Santiago’s service in Iraq may have sent him over the edge.

“While in Iraq, his brother said he lost two of his close friends,” said an uncle who lives in Naples, Fla. “A grenade went off and they died right in front of him.”

Authorities said they were not ruling out terrorism, though no groups had claimed responsibility. Six people were also wounded.

“Indications are that he came here to carry out this horrific attack,” FBI agent George Piro said. “We have not identified any triggers that would have caused this attack. We’re pursuing all angles on what prompted him to carry out this horrific attack.”

There does not seem to be any specific reason that the gunman chose Fort Lauderdale airport over other airports and targets, Piro said.

Santiago landed at the Fort Lauderdale airport just before the 1 p.m. shooting. He had taken off Thursday night from Alaska and had a layover in Minnesota before arriving in Florida.

Authorities said Santiago stepped off a flight and went to the baggage claim area where he pulled a 9-mm. handgun from his one checked bag and began shooting. He reloaded, fired until he was out of bullets and calmly surrendered without saying a word.

It is legal for airline passengers to transport unloaded guns and ammo in their checked bags, as long as they are locked in a hardsided container and declared to the airline at check-in. Some airports require guns and ammunition to be checked in separate bags.

The airport, which shut down after the attack, partially reopened early Saturday morning, allowing some commercial flights to resume at 5 a.m.