Esteban Santiago, a 26-year-old Iraq war veteran, had a history of acting erratically and investigators are probing whether mental illness played a role in the shooting that saw five people killed and six injured in a baggage claim area at Fort Lauderdale’s worldwide airport.
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Santiago, who is in custody, told agents he had planned the attack and bought a one-way ticket to Fort Lauderdale, according to court papers.
The 26-year-old Iraq war veteran was also charged with two firearms offenses. Israel said it was too early to say if the shooting was tied to terrorism.
He had a loaded magazine on him at the time but left his gun in his vehicle along with his newborn child. A USA law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told CBS News that Santiago has no known connections to terror groups. When he returned to Puerto Rico, he studied but struggled to find a job.
Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer tweeted that he was at the airport when shots were fired and “everyone is running”. Five people died, and six others were wounded. Officials said Saturday at a news conference with Gov.
Gov. Rick Scott said the state is working to assist travel plans for the hundreds of travelers stranded in South Florida.
Santiago will have his initial appearance Monday, at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alicia O. Valle in Fort Lauderdale, not far from the Terminal 2 baggage claim where Santiago Ruiz retrieved his semi-automatic handgun from a Delta flight from Minneapolis, entered a restroom to load it and emerged shooting.
An expensive flight prevented what could have been a close call for a Warman man set to fly home from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this week, his wife tells CTV News.
President-elect Donald Trump said he was monitoring the situation and that he had spoken with Mr Scott. He got a “general discharge” for “for unsatisfactory performance”, Tampa Bay Times reported.
At a news conference Saturday, a day after the attack, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it had interviewed the suspect’s family.
“That’s the way it is now and we need to take it like it is”, said passenger Kameron Sanchez.
Five people are dead and eight injured, according to law enforcement. The suspect in custody is believed to be the only shooter.
He says three are in good condition, and three are in intensive care.
Beloved great grandmother Olga Woltering, who was also on her way to a cruise with her husband, Ralph Woltering, was also killed in the shooting.
He did not say whether the firearm was the same weapon used in the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting.
OIA spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said security agencies there were on alert Friday, but haven’t received any specific threats. Local media reported long lines of passengers were forming outside terminals.
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Terminal 2 remained closed Saturday morning.
