Shots Fired at Fort Lauderdale Airport, Killing 1

The Latest: Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting

A gunman opened fire, shooting at least 12 people and killing five of them

  • Jan 06, 2017

[Update: January 9, 2017 8:45 a.m.]

Footage obtained by TMZ from Fort Lauderdale's surveillance system shows Esteban Santiago, 26, pulling a gun from his waistband in the baggage claim area of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's terminal two just before shooting 13 people, five of which died as a result of the ambush.

Police believe that Santiago checked a firearm into his luggage in Alaska before boarding a flight to Fort Lauderdale. When the plan landed, he picked up his luggage from terminal two's baggage claim area, found a nearby bathroom, loaded his gun and hid it in the waistband of his pants. From there, he exited the bathroom, walked in-sync with other travelers through the terminal before pulling the gun and open firing.

Police were able to take Santiago into custody without harming him. In an effort to identify him, they found on him a military ID. According to the military, Santiago had nine years of service with the National Guard, including a 10-month tour in Iraq.

Santiago told police that he bought a one-way ticket to Fort Lauderdale and brought a Walther 9 millimeter pistol and two magazines. He admitted that he shot about 15 shots and was aiming at people's heads.

Santiago is expected to be formally charged Monday, January 9 with counts of causing serious bodily injury to someone at an international airport; using a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime; and causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm.

As of Monday morning, two of the victims remain in the intensive care unit at Broward General Hospital, while the remaining victims have either been released or are recovering at the hospital. Police believe an additional 20+ people were injured during the events, not as a result of gunfire, but panic.

Rumors spread through the airport as the gunfire rang out and afterwards. People were evacuated on to tarmacs while police swept the airport, looking for additional threats. Just as Santiago was boarded up and taken off, people were allowed to re-enter the terminals to be re-screened through security.

About a half hour later, panic set in again as rumors of a second shooter spread. People ran for their lives back out to the tarmac, hiding behind machinery and large equipment.

Police said at a press conference that additional  threats to the airport were unconfirmed.

[UPDATE: January 6, 2017 2:30 p.m.]

The Associated Press is now reporting that at least five people were killed in the shooting, and 12 were injured. Police say the shooting happened in Terminal 2 in the baggage claim area outside the TSA checkpoint. The shooter acted alone.

Original story posted below.

According to multiple reports, a gunman opened fire at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida Friday afternoon, shooting nine people and killing at least one. Local law enforcement announced the gunman was in custody.

At this time it is unclear whether the shooting took place inside an airport terminal or not. Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer was at the airport at the time, saying everyone was running and eventually it calmed down.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3