Five people have been killed in a mass-shooting incident at an airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with local authorities saying that they have taken a man into custody.
CBS Miami have published a report naming the alleged shooter as 26-year-old Esteban Santiago-Ruiz, saying that he has a “minor criminal history” and was found with an active military ID.
BREAKING: Shooter ID’d as Esteban Santiago, law enforcement source tells CBS News. Situation is developing, shelter in place remains at FLL
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 6, 2017
Officials at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport have confirmed that the shooting occurred in a baggage claim area in Terminal 2, just before 1pm local time.
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer was at the airport at the time and Tweeted: “I’m at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Shots have been fired. Everyone is running.”
I’m at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Shots have been fired. Everyone is running.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 6, 2017
The police said there is one shooter and five victims.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 6, 2017
All seems calm now but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport – at least not the area where I am.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 6, 2017
An eyewitness told MSNBC that the shooter appeared to be a “slender man” in his 20s wearing a Star Wars t-shirt. The alleged gunman did not speak, and was “shot by police as he attempted to reload.”
Another witness told NBC:
“He was gunned down by police. It was absolutely surreal. People were scared and frantically running to avoid being shot. People were tripping over each other. They were trying to make a fast exit out of the door.”
Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief told US media that a further 13 people were injured and have been taken to local hospitals. Flights have temporarily been barred from entering or leaving the airport.
Photo: Sun Sentinel / Getty.
