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Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting: Iraq War Veteran Kills Five, Injures Dozen Others

Five Dead, Several Wounded on Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting

(Photo : Getty Images) People wait on the tarmac of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after a shooting transpired near the baggage claim on January 6, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Officials are reporting that five people were killed in an attack by a single gunman who is a US veteran.

A young Iraq war veteran opened fire at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida on Friday, killing five people and wounding dozen others. The authorities said the man was known to FBI prior to carrying out the deadly assault, CBS News reported.

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The 26-year-old assailant, identified as Esteban Santiago, served in Iraq with the Puerto Rico and Alaska National Guard and was deployed in 2010. His service ended in August 2016 after getting discharged due to "unsatisfactory performance," an Alaska National Guard lieutenant told CBS.

His brother told The Associated Press that Esteban had been on psychological treatments in Alaska. He walked into the FBI offices in Anchorage in November claiming that he was being subjected to mind control and voiced in his head were telling him to join and fight for the Islamic State terror group.

"During the interview, Santiago appeared agitated and incoherent, and made disjointed statements," the FBI said, adding that he was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation.

Santiago arrived in Florida on Friday afternoon aboard a Delta flight that flew from Anchorage, with only his semiautomatic handgun checked in and no other luggage, chief of the Anchorage Airport Police and Fire Department Jesse Davis said. The suspect retrieved his baggage, went into the bathroom to load the gun, and came out and started shooting the victims in random.

After emptying three magazines of bullets, the shooter got down on the ground and waited for the police to arrive. Thousands were stranded on the airport, including passengers who remained on the plane for hours.

About a year ago, Santiago was also charged with fourth-degree assault in an incident related to domestic violence involving his 40-year-old girlfriend, authorities told The Daily Beast. His court records also show his involvement in several transgressions, including operating a vehicle without insurance and a broken taillight, and eviction from his landlord for lack of rent payment.

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