This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/06/fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-florida

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Fort Lauderdale shooting: five dead and suspect in custody at Florida airport Fort Lauderdale shooting: five dead as suspect identified as Iraq veteran
(about 1 hour later)
Five people were killed and eight injured in a shooting at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida on Friday. A suspect was in custody.Five people were killed and eight injured in a shooting at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida on Friday. A suspect was in custody.
Asked at a mid-afternoon news briefing if the shooting was considered a terror attack, Broward County sheriff Scott Israel said: “It’s too early to say either way.” The FBI was assisting the sheriff’s office. Asked at a mid-afternoon news briefing if the shooting was considered a terror attack, Broward County sheriff Scott Israel said: “It’s too early to say either way.”
Rick Scott, Florida’s governor, condemned the shooting as “a senseless act of evil”. The gunman was unharmed, Israel said, adding: “No law enforcement fired shots. He is being interviewed by FBI agents and the sheriff’s office.”
The sheriff said no information about the gunman or weapon would immediately be made public. However numerous media outlets, citing anonymous sources, named the suspect as Esteban Santiago, 26, a veteran who served in Iraq.
Speaking to CNN, Florida senator Bill Nelson named the suspect and said: “He had a military ID. We don’t know if that is an accurate ID or a current ID.”
A military spokeswoman told the Associated Press Santiago received a general discharge from the Alaska army national guard last year, for unsatisfactory performance. He joined the guard in November 2014, she said, having served in the army reserves.
A spokesman for the Puerto Rico national guard, Major Paul Dahlen, said Santiago was deployed to Iraq in 2010 and spent a year there with the 130th Engineer Battalion, the 1013th engineer company out of Aguadilla.
Santiago’s brother, Bryan, told the Associated Press his brother had been receiving psychological treatment in Alaska. Santiago’s girlfriend alerted the family to the situation in recent months, he added.
Bryan Santiago said he didn’t know what his brother was being treated for and that they never talked about it over the telephone. He said Esteban Santiago was born in New Jersey but moved to Puerto Rico when he was two.
In a press conference at the airport, Rick Scott, Florida’s governor, condemned the shooting as “a senseless act of evil”.
“You just can’t imagine how this could ever happen in a great state like ours,” he said in a press conference at the airport. “Think of the innocent lives that are lost. We still have people fighting for their lives in our hospitals.“You just can’t imagine how this could ever happen in a great state like ours,” he said in a press conference at the airport. “Think of the innocent lives that are lost. We still have people fighting for their lives in our hospitals.
“Whoever is responsible will be held accountable to the full extent of the law. Let me repeat this, the state of Florida, the citizens of Florida, law enforcement, will not tolerate evil acts. My heart goes out to every family impacted. The families who lost their loved ones, and those with loved ones still in hospital fighting for their lives.”“Whoever is responsible will be held accountable to the full extent of the law. Let me repeat this, the state of Florida, the citizens of Florida, law enforcement, will not tolerate evil acts. My heart goes out to every family impacted. The families who lost their loved ones, and those with loved ones still in hospital fighting for their lives.”
Scott, a Republican, said he had “reached out” to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice-president elect Mike Pence several times. “They told me that whatever resources we needed from the federal government, they would do everything in their power to make that happen,” he said. Scott, a Republican, said he had “reached out” to President-elect Donald Trump and vice-president elect Mike Pence several times. “They told me that whatever resources we needed from the federal government, they would do everything in their power to make that happen,” he said.
In response to a reporter, Scott admitted he had neither contacted nor heard from President Obama. Asked why not, he responded: “I have a personal relationship with Vice-president-elect Pence and President-elect Trump and I reached out to them. In response to a reporter, Scott admitted he had neither contacted nor heard from President Obama. Asked why not, he responded: “I have a personal relationship with vice-president-elect Pence and President-elect Trump and I reached out to them.
“It’s horrible what happened here, it’s not time to be political, it’s a time to mourn those who lost their lives, finish the investigation and pray for everybody that’s still fighting for their lives.“It’s horrible what happened here, it’s not time to be political, it’s a time to mourn those who lost their lives, finish the investigation and pray for everybody that’s still fighting for their lives.
“We went through Pulse, the biggest thing is pray for everyone in hospital, pray that everyone survives.”“We went through Pulse, the biggest thing is pray for everyone in hospital, pray that everyone survives.”
Obama was briefed by his homeland security adviser, the White House said.Obama was briefed by his homeland security adviser, the White House said.
Scott was asked if the airport incident and that June 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, in which 49 people died, showed a need for stronger gun control laws in the state. Scott was asked if the airport incident and the June 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, in which 49 people died, showed a need for stronger gun control laws in the state.
“It’s not a time to do politics,” he said again, adding that the state should “finish the investigation, mourn those who lost their life and pray for those who are still fighting for their life”.“It’s not a time to do politics,” he said again, adding that the state should “finish the investigation, mourn those who lost their life and pray for those who are still fighting for their life”.
President-elect Trump, meanwhile, used Twitter to say: “Monitoring the terrible situation in Florida. Just spoke to Governor Scott. Thoughts and prayers for all. Stay safe!”President-elect Trump, meanwhile, used Twitter to say: “Monitoring the terrible situation in Florida. Just spoke to Governor Scott. Thoughts and prayers for all. Stay safe!”
Outside Trump Tower in Manhattan, Pence told reporters he and Trump were grateful for Scott’s leadership. “The hearts of every American are in Fort Lauderdale,” he said.Outside Trump Tower in Manhattan, Pence told reporters he and Trump were grateful for Scott’s leadership. “The hearts of every American are in Fort Lauderdale,” he said.
The gunman was unharmed, Sheriff Israel said, adding: “No law enforcement fired shots. He is being interviewed by FBI agents and the sheriff’s office.”
Florida senator Bill Nelson named the suspect in an interview with CNN, saying: “He had a military ID. We don’t know if that is an accurate ID or a current ID.”
The sheriff however said no information about the gunman or weapon would yet be made public.
A Broward County commissioner briefed by the sheriff’s office told the Associated Press the gunman was a passenger who had arrived on a flight from Canada and carried a gun in their checked luggage. The Canadian embassy in Washington DC, however, said the flight had been from Anchorage in Alaska and had flown to Florida via Minneapolis.A Broward County commissioner briefed by the sheriff’s office told the Associated Press the gunman was a passenger who had arrived on a flight from Canada and carried a gun in their checked luggage. The Canadian embassy in Washington DC, however, said the flight had been from Anchorage in Alaska and had flown to Florida via Minneapolis.
The county commissioner, Chip LaMarca, said the shooter removed the weapon, which witnesses told news organisations appeared to be a 9mm handgun, after picking up his luggage. He then loaded it in a bathroom and began shooting, LaMarca said. The county commissioner, Chip LaMarca, said the gunman removed the weapon, which witnesses told news organisations appeared to be a 9mm handgun, after picking up his luggage. He then loaded it in a bathroom and began shooting, LaMarca said.
Firearms can legally be carried in checked baggage but must be unloaded and stored in a locked and hard-walled container, according to TSA rules. Ammunition and firearms must be declared to the airline when checking baggage.Firearms can legally be carried in checked baggage but must be unloaded and stored in a locked and hard-walled container, according to TSA rules. Ammunition and firearms must be declared to the airline when checking baggage.
Earlier, the sheriff’s office said there was an active search for another gunman.Earlier, the sheriff’s office said there was an active search for another gunman.
Barbara Sharief, mayor of Broward County, told CNN police had received reports of possible shots in an airport parking garage. People were seen to scatter and run along a runway, carrying baggage.Barbara Sharief, mayor of Broward County, told CNN police had received reports of possible shots in an airport parking garage. People were seen to scatter and run along a runway, carrying baggage.
However, at the mid-afternoon press conference, the sheriff dismissed rumors of multiple gunmen. “At this point, there’s no second active shooter,” Israel said. “There’s been no shooting in any place else than in the downstairs of terminal two.”However, at the mid-afternoon press conference, the sheriff dismissed rumors of multiple gunmen. “At this point, there’s no second active shooter,” Israel said. “There’s been no shooting in any place else than in the downstairs of terminal two.”
All flights were temporarily suspended. “We’re just going to go step-by-step, methodically through the building before we go to any steps to reopen operations,” said airport director Mark Gale.All flights were temporarily suspended. “We’re just going to go step-by-step, methodically through the building before we go to any steps to reopen operations,” said airport director Mark Gale.
Shortly before 5pm, the sheriff’s office warned that a planned controlled explosion would take place near the airport, although it was unknown if the package related to the shooting.Shortly before 5pm, the sheriff’s office warned that a planned controlled explosion would take place near the airport, although it was unknown if the package related to the shooting.
Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary, was at the airport when the shooting occurred and tweeted what he could see.Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary, was at the airport when the shooting occurred and tweeted what he could see.
“Shots have been fired,” he wrote, just before 1pm ET. “Everyone is running.” Twenty minutes later, he added: “All seems calm now but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport – at least not the area where I am.”“Shots have been fired,” he wrote, just before 1pm ET. “Everyone is running.” Twenty minutes later, he added: “All seems calm now but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport – at least not the area where I am.”
One witness told MSNBC the shooter as a slender man who was “directly firing at us” while passengers waited for their bags.One witness told MSNBC the shooter as a slender man who was “directly firing at us” while passengers waited for their bags.
“I put my head down and prayed,” the witness said, adding that his wife had given first aid to someone who had been shot in the head. The witness’s mother-in-law tended to another victim but the person was already dead, he said.“I put my head down and prayed,” the witness said, adding that his wife had given first aid to someone who had been shot in the head. The witness’s mother-in-law tended to another victim but the person was already dead, he said.