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 6 Version 7
Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting Leaves 5 Dead Florida Airport Assailant May Have Heard Voices Urging Violence, Officials Say
(about 1 hour later)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Did you witness the shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport? Do you have any information about the suspect? Email us at airportshootingFLL@nytimes.com. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Federal law enforcement officials said they were investigating whether the gunman who opened fire at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday might have been a mentally disturbed individual who heard voices in his head telling him to commit acts of violence.
A gunman opened fire Friday in a crowded baggage claim area at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., killing five people and wounding eight others, officials said. According to officials, the gunman visited the F.B.I. office in Anchorage sometime before the attack and made disturbing remarks that prompted law enforcement to urge him to seek mental health care. While he heard voices in his head, he told the F.B.I. that he was in control and did not intend to hurt anyone.
“The gunman is in custody and unharmed,” the Broward County sheriff, Scott Israel, said at a news conference, adding that the man was being interviewed by F.B.I. agents and county investigators. The injured were taken to a hospital. It was too early to tell whether he might have been inspired by terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, but the F.B.I. was investigating that possibility, the officials said, adding that he had viewed extremism materials on the internet. He told the F.B.I. that he believed that materials had been put on his computer by a government agency trying to control his mind.
The sheriff said investigators were trying to determine the motive of the gunman, who was identified by Senator Bill Nelson of Florida as Esteban Santiago. Mr. Nelson said he was carrying a military identification. Shortly after 1 p.m. Friday, the man, who had been an airline passenger, pulled a weapon out of his bag and opened fire in a crowded baggage claim area in Terminal 2, killing five people and wounding eight others, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
“He was a lone shooter, and we have no evidence at this time that he was acting with anyone else,” Barbara Sharief, a Broward County commissioner, said. The man was identified as Esteban Santiago, 26, who enlisted in the Army National Guard in San Juan about nine years ago, and served in Iraq for less than a year, military records show. He later transferred to the National Guard in Alaska where he served as a combat engineer until he was discharged for unsatisfactory performance in 2016.
Sheriff Israel said it was uncertain whether the shooting was an act of terror. A Broward County commissioner, Chip LaMarca, said in a Facebook post that the gunman had checked his weapon in his luggage for his flight into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The baggage claim area in Terminal 2 is used by Delta Air Lines and Air Canada.
The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport authority said on Twitter 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. The man then went into the bathroom, Mr. LaMarca said, and “came out shooting people in baggage claim,” which is outside the secure area. Several reports said the man was on an Air Canada flight, but the airline said it had no record of a passenger by that name on its flights.
Sheriff Israel would not say whether the gunman was a passenger on a flight or had come to airport from the Fort Lauderdale area. The Broward County sheriff, Scott Israel, said Mr. Santiago was taken into custody without officers firing a shot and was being interviewed by F.B.I. agents and county investigators. The injured were taken to a hospital.
On Twitter, 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 was on his way to the airport.On Twitter, 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 was on his way to the airport.
The shooting in the crowded airport began shortly before 1 p.m., setting off panic as travelers rushed out of the terminal. The shooting set off panic as travelers rushed out of the terminal.
“Everyone is running,” Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary for President George W. Bush said on Twitter just before 1 p.m. Video footage showed hundreds of people waiting on the tarmac as law enforcement officers rushed to the scene.“Everyone is running,” Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary for President George W. Bush said on Twitter just before 1 p.m. Video footage showed hundreds of people waiting on the tarmac as law enforcement officers rushed to the scene.
Mr. Fleischer later posted on Twitter that the situation had calmed “but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport.”Mr. Fleischer later posted on Twitter that the situation had calmed “but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport.”
About 90 minutes after the shooting, panic broke out briefly with passengers and police officers running frantically after passengers in other parts of the airport reported shots being fired. Dozens of officers could be seen with automatic weapons drawn, directing a large group of travelers.About 90 minutes after the shooting, panic broke out briefly with passengers and police officers running frantically after passengers in other parts of the airport reported shots being fired. Dozens of officers could be seen with automatic weapons drawn, directing a large group of travelers.
The Broward County sheriff’s office said initially that it was investigating reports of additional shots being fired, but Sheriff Israel said during the news conference that the reports were false.The Broward County sheriff’s office said initially that it was investigating reports of additional shots being fired, but Sheriff Israel said during the news conference that the reports were false.
Witnesses told news outlets that the shooter, who appeared to be a man in his 20s wearing a “Star Wars” T-shirt, had been firing into the crowd at baggage claim. Sheriff Israel said that no shots had been fired by law enforcement, countering reports that the gunman had been shot by the police.Witnesses told news outlets that the shooter, who appeared to be a man in his 20s wearing a “Star Wars” T-shirt, had been firing into the crowd at baggage claim. Sheriff Israel said that no shots had been fired by law enforcement, countering reports that the gunman had been shot by the police.
John Schlicher, who told MSNBC that he had witnessed the attack, described the gunman as a “slender man” who was “directly firing at us” while passengers waited for their bags.John Schlicher, who told MSNBC that he had witnessed the attack, described the gunman as a “slender man” who was “directly firing at us” while passengers waited for their bags.
“I put my head down and prayed,” Mr. Schlicher said.“I put my head down and prayed,” Mr. Schlicher said.
Dr. Michael Massa, who was traveling home to Los Angeles from Europe, said they heard shots shortly after getting into the terminal. Dr. Michael Massa, who was traveling home to Los Angeles from Europe, said he heard shots shortly after getting into the terminal.
“We ran from the terminal out to the tarmac,” Dr. Massa said, who added that officials then directed them toward the east side of the airport where they were waiting behind a building.“We ran from the terminal out to the tarmac,” Dr. Massa said, who added that officials then directed them toward the east side of the airport where they were waiting behind a building.
At one point, he said, officials made everyone go single file, with their hands up, and then patted them down.At one point, he said, officials made everyone go single file, with their hands up, and then patted them down.
Local television news stations showed video of medics taking care of a bleeding victim outside the airport. News helicopters showed hundreds of people standing on the tarmac as an ambulance drove by.Local television news stations showed video of medics taking care of a bleeding victim outside the airport. News helicopters showed hundreds of people standing on the tarmac as an ambulance drove by.
With the airport shut down, the Federal Aviation Administration said that flights headed to Fort Lauderdale had been delayed or diverted to other airports.With the airport shut down, the Federal Aviation Administration said that flights headed to Fort Lauderdale had been delayed or diverted to other airports.
Live images from WPLG television showed dozens of people milling around on a runway.Live images from WPLG television showed dozens of people milling around on a runway.
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. Three other people were shot and several others were injured.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. Three other people were shot and several others were injured.
Airport police officers chased the gunman through the terminal as he continued to fire before shooting him near a departure gate and arresting him.Airport police officers chased the gunman through the terminal as he continued to fire before shooting him near a departure gate and arresting him.
Security officials in Los Angeles announced on Twitter Friday that they had stepped up security at the main terminals in the airport.Security officials in Los Angeles announced on Twitter Friday that they had stepped up security at the main terminals in the airport.