5 dead, 8 injured in shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Gunman kills 5 people at Fort Lauderdale Airport
Josh Einiger reports from Fort Lauderdale.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (WABC) -- At least five people were killed and eight injured in a shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida Friday afternoon, law enforcement officials said.



Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said eight people were injured and transported to an area hospital after gunshots rang out in the baggage area in Terminal 2 just before 1 p.m. There's no word yet how seriously they were hurt.



Anchorage Airport Police tell ABC News that Esteban Santiago, the suspect in the Fort Lauderdale Airport shooting, only checked one bag which was the hard case with the weapon inside.



The mayor earlier described the gunman as a "lone shooter" who is responsible for the attack.



Investigators said the gunman boarded a plane Thursday night in Anchorage, changed planes in Minneapolis and flew to Fort Lauderdale Friday. Once he got off the plane, officials said he claimed his checked baggage, went into a restroom -- where he apparently loaded the gun -- and came out shooting.



SCENE PHOTOS: Shooting at Fort Lauderdale Airport


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A law enforcement officer evacuates a civilian from an area at Fort Lauderdale-€“Hollywood International Airport, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo

The TSA reported these details shortly after the shooting:


- The incident occurred in public area, not a secure area


- The Terminal is currently being re-populated


- All passengers are being re-screened



Florida Senator Bill Nelson said the shooter was identified as 26-year-old Esteban Santiago. Nelson said a TSA administrator and director of the airport told him that the shooter was carrying a military I.D. with that name. ABC News confirmed the suspect's name with law enforcement sources.



RELATED: What we know about the suspected Fort Lauderdale gunman



A witness tells ABC News that the gunman shouted "I'm not Jewish, I'm not Jewish" before he started shooting.



Another witness described a bloody scene at the terminal:



Images from the airport show hundreds of people standing on the tarmac as an ambulance drove by and numerous law enforcement officers, including tactical units, rushed to the scene.



Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer posted on social media that he was at the airport when shots were fired and "everyone is running."



President-elect Donald Trump posted a message in response to the shooting:



A spokesperson for Delta said all of its employees are safe and accounted for.



RELATED: Security beefed up at NY-area airports after Florida shooting



Federal official tells ABC News that all departures and arrivals at this airport are suspended until the situation is resolved.



Several airports across the U.S. are adding security in the wake of the shooting.



Eyewitness News is following this story. Keep checking abc7NY for the latest information.

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