It would be so nice to make it pass 30 days before we hear of another senseless shooting. This time, the deadly attack comes out of Fort Lauderdale at an airport of all places. 26 year old Esteban Santiago, a military vet, calmly walked into a baggage claim area at a terminal shooting multiple passengers. Five of the people didn’t survive their wounds.
Santiago’s family says that he hasn’t been “right” for a while and they believe he was suffering from post traumatic stress. His brother claims he’s been fighting with everyone, especially his girlfriend. However, NO ONE saw this horrific incident coming.
Here’s more from our folk over at HEAVY.COM.
“Santiago, 26, is a former U.S. Army Reservist, born in New Jersey, according to NBC News. The account that Santiago may have heard voices telling him to fight for ISIS – a story he allegedly gave to the FBI at the time – came from CNN. However, the network said that authorities are currently not treating the mass tragedy as a terrorist attack.
Eyewitnesses described a horrific scene in which the gunman randomly executed people by shooting them in the head, with “no rhyme nor reason to it,” according to NBC News. He fired through luggage and at people who were hiding, an eyewitness told the network. The Florida governor called the attack “evil” and “disgusting” on CNN.
The Broward County Sheriff said that five people died in the attack. The accused gunman is alive and being grilled by federal law enforcement.
Police said in a news conference that it was too soon to say whether the motive had any link to terrorism.
Pete Williams of NBC later reported that authorities contend the shooting appears to be the result of a “mentally disturbed person and not an act of terrorism.” He also reported that the shooter, whose roots are in Puerto Rico, served in Iraq and returned mentally unstable. The accused shooter had prior contact with the criminal justice system in Alaska.
According to NBC Miami, eyewitnesses reported that the active shooter – who is now in custody – killed the five people and injured eight while moving methodically down the carousel in the baggage claim area.
Despite a subsequent panic, there is no second active shooter and the gunman is alleged to have acted alone, the Broward County Sheriff said in the news conference.
Santiago won awards for his service in Iraq and saw combat. However, CNN said there is evidence he was not “performing to standard” in the National Guard toward the end of his service, which took place in Alaska.
Santiago’s brother, Bryan Santiago, said Esteban Santiago lived in Puerto Rico and enlisted in the Army Reserves while there, serving for six years, including about a year in Iraq in 2011, NBC News reports.
“He was pro-America,” Bryan Santiago told NBC News.
Bryan Santiago said his brother developed mental health problems after his time in Iraq, but was not diagnosed with PTSD.”
How in the WORLD was his baggage checked lawfully? Obviously someone didn’t do much of a job going through his personal belongings. And what about gun laws? Why are mentally unstable people are able to keep getting their hands on assault weapons? This has got to be addressed.
Mr. Santiago is in police custody being questioned now, because no harm was done to him when he was apprehended. (big shock)
We have learned the names of two victims who lost their lives in this tragedy. A volunteer firefighter from Virginia was among the five people who were killed.
Terry Andres (pictured below) was about to go on vacation with his wife when 26-year-old Esteban Santiago opened fire slaughtering the 62 year old instantly. Andres was a volunteer firefighter in Virginia Beach.
Olga Woltering, a retiree from Georgia pictured below with her husband, was also among the killed.
Woltering and her hubby were preparing for a cruise celebrating his 90th birthday when the deranged gunman started blasting away. She was struck at least once and passed away inside the terminal, according to several members of her Atlanta church.
We want to send our condolences to the 13 people who were shot, the 5 who were killed, and the many patrons whose lives are changed forever. May the Good Lord bless and keep you.
