This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport.html

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Multiple People Dead in Airport Shooting, Sheriff Says Multiple People Dead in Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting, Sheriff Says
(35 minutes later)
A shooting at the airport in Fort Lauderdale has left a number of people dead, the Broward County Sheriff said Friday. A suspect was taken into custody. A gunman opened fire Friday in a crowded baggage terminal at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, killing at least five and wounding at least 8 others, officials said.
A federal law enforcement official said initial reports indicated at least three people had been fatally shot and others possibly wounded. A suspect has taken into custody, the Broward County Sheriff said, and the injured had been taken to an area hospital.
The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport authority tweeted that the shooting had taken place in the baggage claim area in Terminal 2, which is used by Delta Air Lines and Air Canada. Barbara Sharief, a Broward County commissioner, told CNN that “He was a lone shooter and we have no evidence at this time that he was acting with anyone else.”
Flights at the airport had been suspended, officials said, and Barbara Sharief, Broward County commissioner, told CNN that the terminal was an “active crime scene.” The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport authority tweeted that the shooting had taken place in the baggage claim area in Terminal 2, which is used by Delta Air Lines and Air Canada. The baggage claim would have been outside the secure area of the airport.
“He was a lone shooter,” Ms. Sharief said, “and we have no evidence at this time that he was acting with anyone else.” The airport was essentially shut down, and Federal Aviation Administration said that flights headed to Fort Lauderdale would be delayed or diverted to other airports.
Reports of the shooting came about 1 p.m. with numerous reports on social media, including some by Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary for George W. Bush. In a tweet, President-elect Donald J. Trump, said that he was “monitoring the terrible situation in Florida.” and that he had spoken to Gov. Rick Scott, who is on his way to the airport.
“Everyone is running,” Mr. Fleischer tweeted just before 1 p.m. News of the shooting came about 1 p.m. with numerous reports on social media, including some by Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary for George W. Bush.
He said he was told by the police that there was one gunman and “five victims.” There was no independent confirmation of that report. “Everyone is running,” Mr. Fleischer tweeted just before 1 p.m. Video of the airport showed travelers rushing out of the airport and hundreds of people waiting on the tarmac as numerous law enforcement officers rushed to the airport.
Local media outlets reported that the number might be higher. Flights at the airport had been suspended for a time, officials said, and Ms. Sharief told CNN that the terminal was an “active crime scene.”
Mr. Fleischer said he was told by the police that there was one gunman and “five victims.”
Later, Mr. Fleischer said “All seems calm now but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport — at least not the area where I am.”Later, Mr. Fleischer said “All seems calm now but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport — at least not the area where I am.”
News helicopters showed hundreds of people standing on the tarmac as an ambulance drove by and numerous law enforcement officers rushed to the airport. The last major outbreak of gun violence at a busy American airport was in 2013, when a man carrying an assault rifle and 100 rounds of ammunition began firing at a security checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport, killing a Transportation Security Administration officer, sending morning travelers fleeing in panic and paralyzing one of the world’s busiest airports for hours. Two other people were shot and at least four others were injured in the melee.
Live images from WPLG television showed dozens of people milling around on a tarmac. Airport police officers chased him through the terminal as he continued to fire before shooting him near a departure gate and arresting him.
Live images from WPLG television showed dozens of people milling around on a runway.