Alleged Ft. Lauderdale airport shooter had guns confiscated twice

Esteban Santiago, the accused Florida airport gunman had his guns seized twice by authorities before he went on his Jan. 6 rampage in which he killed five and wounded six people at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Over four years ago, Santiago, 26, had a gun taken by Penuelas police in Puerto Rico and again more recently. In the PR incident, the reason for the confiscation wasn't made clear, and most likely was due to a complaint. 

But on both occasions investigations were closed and his guns were returned to him in 2014 after a two year investigation. 

Shortly after his guns were returned to him, he moved to Anchorage when in November of last year, he walked into an FBI office and reportedly told authorities that ISIS was influencing him and the government was attempting to control his mind by forcing him to watch ISIS videos.

His guns were again confiscated, this time by federal agents. He was given a mental health evaluation but was evidently deemed not to be a danger to himself or others and doctors believed he didn't need to be committed.

So Santiago was released and his gun returned to him on December 8th. So on January 6th, he was armed when he walked into the airport and began shooting. Whether or not the gun he used was the same that was returned is a moot point. He was allowed to have a gun, and the one he used was a Walther 9mm semi-automatic handgun.

Judging from what is known about Santiago, it's probable that he was influenced by ISIS but is also mentally ill. I would bet he suffers from schizophrenia but that needs to be determined. He appears to be eligible for the death penalty, but may get life in a mental institution if authorities see it the way I do at this time.

I am a strong Second Amendment advocate, but I also believe there needs to be better mental health screening as well as enforcement of gun laws. This guy should have been a red flag for anyone in law enforcement.



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Ft. Lauderdale Airport shooter grilled for hours

Esteban Santiago has been identified as the shooter in the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in the Friday murders of 5 and wounding of 8 people. It was learned that Santiago visited the FBI Anchorage office in November and told them he was being forced to watch ISIS videos. He believed US intelligence had infiltrated his mind and were forcing him to watch the propaganda videos.

According to sources, Santiago seemed agitated and incoherent during that interview, and it seemed obvious that he was suffering from a mental disorder. But not severe enough, evidently, to prohibit him from taking a gun along with him for the flight from Alaska to Florida.

After the November contact, the FBI called local authorities who took custody of him and brought him to a local hospital "for a welfare check."

According to his brother, he had been receiving psychological treatment, but it isn't clear if he was receiving anti-psychotic medication(s) for his schizophrenia, are just a good talking to.

The sources said that the November incident prompted the FBI to open an investigation on him that led to family interviews, database checks and an interagency interview. It was believed (by James Comey) that there wasn't enough credible information to commit Santiago or indict him for anything because no prosecutor would go forward with the case.

Yet, in recent years, Santiago had a series of incidents with the law. 

Not quite one year ago, he was charged with fourth degree assault and damage of property in Anchorage where he lived from 2014 to 2016. (The fact that he never wore a winter coat should have alerted authorities, but that's another story.) One of the charges was dismissed by the local prosecutor two months later.

One of the charges may have been related to domestic violence but the case was resolved after Santiago agreed to enter an agreement of deferred prosecution. The charges were dismissed by the state prosecutor in exchange for completion of requirements.

Santiago served in the Puerto Rico National Guard and the Army Reserves prior to serving in the Alaska Army National Guard and was honorably discharged four months ago from his last post at Fort Greely, Arkansas as a Private First Class. He served 2 years in Iraq after which he started acting strangely, according to an aunt in Hudson County, NJ.

Santiago has a concealed carry permit and properly checked in his weapon prior to boarding--he evidently didn't want to get into any trouble. Maybe his becoming a dad this year cooled his jets until he landed in one in Florida today.

So did Esteban Santiago think he was somehow fighting for ISIS?

Santiago is behind bars and faces federal charges, the FBI announced Saturday. The official charges will be announced later in the day. The Special Agent in the case is George Piro who said that the suspect was questioned for hours and they have looked into his social media footprint and where he has traveled in the past.

Terrorism may have been a "potential motivation" for the attack, Piro said, and the FBI hasn't ruled anything out. "The indications are he came here to carry out this horrific attack," Piro said.

Santiago was not on any no-fly list, according to the FBI. Just because he approached them in Anchorage and told them an intelligence agency made him watch ISIS videos is no reason to put him on any no-fly list.

The suspect used a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in the attack, Piro said. (I'm guessing Glock.)

One update has been made thus far: Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said that 6 people, not 8, were wounded as originally reported. Three were in ICU and three were in good condition.

Santiago has a history of mental health problems, some of which came after he served in Iraq. He was receiving psychological treatment in Alaska, but nothing, it seems, was enough to put him on a no-fly list, and nobody worried that he took along a gun in his suitcase.

But I bet they checked his shampoo bottle and shoes.


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Developing: Active shooter in custody at Ft. Lauderdale Int'l Airport

Developing -- Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: five people dead and a shooting suspect has been taken into custody, authorities say.

At 2:30 p.m. local time the TSA said there was another active shooter at the airport and all terminals were closed, but this wasn't confirmed by law enforcement, and later proved to be unfounded and there is no second suspect. The initial shooting began at 1:00 p.m. local time.

The suspect in custody is identified as Esteban Santiago, 26, according to Sen. Bill Nelson. He said the suspect was carrying military ID. He was a passenger on an Air Canada flight and had a gun packed in his bag.

Eight people were rushed to hospitals.

"It was very surreal," John Schlicher, a witness told the media, using one of the popular words for 2016 aside from bigly. 

The witness described the shooter as a dark hair, slender man, probably in his 30s, wearing a Star Wars tee-shirt. "He was shooting people that were down on the ground too," Schlicher said.

Santiago apparently got down on the ground and waited for the police to arrive once he ran out of ammo, a witness told CBS News.

Lame Duck President Barack Hussein Obama was allegedly briefed on the shooting by his Homeland Security adviser. An anonymous source said that the so-called president was glad to know the suspect didn't shout out anything in Arabic while he mercilessly tried to kill as many strangers as possible.

The airport tweeted that there was an "ongoing incident" at Terminal 2 baggage claim. That terminal serves Delta Air Lines and Air Canada.

Video posted on Instagram showed several wounded individuals on the ground at the same terminal, one of whom appeared to be lying in a pool of blood with a head wound.

Gov. Rick Scott's office said state law enforcement hasn't confirmed a motive for the shooting and he is on his way to the scene as I frantically type this.

The airport is the 21st busiest in the USA and serves 21 different airlines. Almost 2.5 million people passed through around Thanksgiving.

What's becoming increasingly clear is our need to beef up airport security and perhaps get rid of the clowns who check your shoes and large bottles of shampoo carried by 84-year-old wheelchair-bound nuns.

It is now 4:00 p.m. local time and the airport remains closed.


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