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On January 6, 2017, 26-year-old Esteban Santiago opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, killing five people and injuring six others. Santiago, who had flown in from Alaska, used a 9mm semi-automatic handgun to carry out the attack in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2. He was later arrested after running out of ammunition and sentenced to life in prison. Authorities have not ruled out terrorism as a motive, and Santiago himself claimed that he was under government mind control and later switched to claims of supporting the Islamic State extremist group.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Esteban Santiago |
| Age | 26 |
| Residence | Anchorage, Alaska |
| Occupation | Security guard |
| Military Service | U.S. military veteran, served in the National Guard in Puerto Rico and Alaska, deployed to Iraq from 2010 to 2011 |
| Mental Health | Suffered from mental illness, received psychological treatment, diagnosed with schizophrenia |
| Weapon | 9mm semi-automatic handgun, Walther PPS |
| Ammunition | Two loaded magazines |
| Victims | Killed five people, injured six others |
| Motive | Unclear, authorities did not rule out terrorism |
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What You'll Learn
Esteban Santiago's background and mental health
On January 6, 2017, Esteban Santiago, a 26-year-old Iraq War veteran, carried out a gun attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. Santiago flew from Alaska to Florida with a gun in his checked baggage. After landing, he retrieved the gun and opened fire near a baggage claim in Terminal 2 at around 12:55 p.m., killing five people and wounding six others.
Esteban Santiago's Background
Santiago was born in New Jersey, but his parents moved back to Puerto Rico when he was two or three years old. He joined the National Guard in Puerto Rico and later transferred to Alaska, where he was deployed to Iraq in 2010. Santiago's family members reported that he began to suffer from mental health issues after returning from his tour of duty in Iraq. According to his aunt, Maria Ruiz Rivera, he spent time in the hospital over mental health concerns and had "lost his mind." Santiago's uncle, Hernan Rivera, also stated that he "wasn't feeling too good" after returning from Iraq.
Esteban Santiago's Mental Health
Santiago sought help for mental health issues on multiple occasions before the airport shooting. In November 2016, he walked into an FBI office in Anchorage, Alaska, claiming that his mind was being controlled by a U.S. intelligence agency and that he was hearing voices about the CIA and ISIS. He was taken in for a mental health evaluation but was released after only four days of treatment. Santiago's brother, Bryan Santiago, stated that he believed his brother needed more help and that four days of treatment was not enough.
Santiago also received psychological treatment shortly before the airport attack. In March 2012, the Puerto Rico Police investigated his erratic behaviour and confiscated his firearms, but they were returned to him in May 2014. After his release from a mental health facility in December 2016, Anchorage police returned his gun, which he later used in the airport shooting.
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Santiago's firearm and ammunition
On January 6, 2017, Esteban Santiago, a 26-year-old resident of Alaska, committed a mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Broward County, Florida, United States. Santiago was a former member of the Alaska Army National Guard and Puerto Rico National Guard and had served in Iraq. He had a history of erratic behaviour and mental illness, and had received psychiatric treatment prior to the attack.
Santiago used a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, specifically a Walther PPS 9mm pistol, during the attack. He legally purchased the firearm and checked it in his luggage for the flight. He also had two ammunition magazines, which he emptied, firing 15 shots in total. After landing, he retrieved his checked bag, went to a bathroom, and loaded his handgun. He then put it in his waistband and fired at travellers' heads and bodies.
Santiago had a history of mental health issues and had previously had firearms confiscated by the Puerto Rico Police in 2012. They were returned to him in 2014, and he later obtained a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Puerto Rico. In November 2016, he voluntarily surrendered a handgun to the FBI in Anchorage, claiming he was hearing voices and that his mind was being controlled. After a brief hospitalization and psychiatric evaluation, the firearm was returned to him in December 2016, and this was the same weapon used in the airport attack.
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The attack and its victims
On January 6, 2017, 26-year-old Esteban Santiago opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, killing five people and wounding six others. The shooting took place in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2, which is the host terminal for Delta Air Lines and Air Canada.
Santiago, a U.S. military veteran, had flown in from Alaska, where he was living, with a handgun checked in his luggage. He followed the Transportation Security Administration's protocols for checking the gun. After landing, he picked up his bag, went to a bathroom, and loaded the gun. He then walked through the baggage claim area and opened fire on fellow passengers, shooting at targets off-screen. Santiago fired a total of 15 times during the attack, which lasted 70 to 80 seconds.
The shooting caused panic and chaos at the airport, with hundreds of passengers fleeing onto the tarmac. The airport was shut down for the remainder of the day, with flights grounded or diverted to other airports. The false alarm of a second shooter further exacerbated the situation.
Santiago was arrested after running out of ammunition and was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting. He admitted to planning the attack and told investigators he bought a one-way ticket to Florida. He had previously received treatment for mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the shooting. Authorities have not ruled out terrorism as a motive.
The attack left five people dead and six others wounded. Many of the victims and their families were elderly and travelling on a cruise vacation. The shooting also impacted the thousands of passengers who were at the airport at the time, as well as those who were affected by the flight disruptions.
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Immediate aftermath and response
On January 6, 2017, 26-year-old Esteban Santiago opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, killing five people and wounding six others. Santiago, a US military veteran, had flown in from Alaska and had checked his gun into his luggage. After retrieving his firearm, he opened fire in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2, which is the host terminal for Delta Air Lines and Air Canada. The shooting lasted between 70 and 80 seconds, with Santiago firing a total of 15 times during the attack.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting was chaotic, with hundreds of panicked passengers fleeing onto the tarmac, flights being diverted, and planes stranded on the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop notice, closing the airport to all but emergency flights. Port Everglades, staffed by the American Red Cross, assisted about 10,000 passengers who were bussed there for food, shelter, and transportation connections. The airport remained closed for the remainder of the day but reopened to commercial flights early the following day.
In the immediate response to the shooting, law enforcement officials and emergency services rushed to the scene. A Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO) deputy immediately ran towards the sound of gunfire and apprehended Santiago within 85 seconds. The deputy had been trained to react to an active shooter situation. The FBI and local law enforcement agencies also launched investigations into the shooting, interviewing Santiago and witnesses.
The shooting prompted scrutiny of the actions of law enforcement officials, both before and after the incident. An independent review found a lack of coordination among authorities and unclear leadership, with confusion fuelling a frenzied second evacuation amid false rumours of a second shooter. Santiago had prior interactions with law enforcement, including a visit to an FBI office in Anchorage in November 2016, where he claimed his mind was being controlled. He had also been treated for mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the shooting but was found competent to stand trial.
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Santiago's sentencing
On January 6, 2017, Esteban Santiago, a 26-year-old resident of Alaska, carried out a mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, killing five people and wounding six others. Santiago, an Iraq War veteran with mental health problems, including schizophrenia, pleaded guilty to five counts of committing acts of violence at an international airport causing death and six counts of committing acts of violence at an international airport causing serious bodily injury.
On August 17, 2018, Santiago was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences plus 120 years in prison. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Beth Bloom read off the names of all 11 victims and described their lives before imposing the sentence. Santiago said nothing during the hearing.
Prior to the trial, Santiago's attorneys and federal prosecutors reached a plea agreement, in which Santiago would plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life in prison, thus avoiding the death penalty. Several victims' families spoke at the hearing, expressing their searing losses and condemning Santiago's actions.
Santiago's mental health issues were also raised during the hearing, with James Steckley, the husband of a victim, apologizing for the lack of support for returning veterans and expressing his sorrow that Santiago did not receive help. Santiago had previously visited the FBI's Anchorage office, claiming that his mind was being controlled by the US government and that he was hearing voices telling him to commit acts of violence. He was urged to seek mental health treatment and was evaluated by a psychologist, Heather Holmes, who testified at Santiago's plea hearing that he had improved with medication.
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Frequently asked questions
The Florida airport shooter has been identified as Esteban Santiago, a 26-year-old U.S. military veteran.
Santiago had minor brushes with the law in Alaska, including a $1,000 fine for driving without insurance and another infraction for driving with broken taillights. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of property damage and assault. However, he did not have a criminal record in Florida.
The exact motive behind the shooting is unknown. Santiago had been treated for mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the shooting. Authorities have not ruled out terrorism as a potential motive.
Five people were killed, and six others were seriously wounded. Additionally, about three dozen people suffered bruises or broken bones in the chaos as people scattered for cover.
Esteban Santiago was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting. A federal judge called the attack "85 seconds of evil."
