Fort Lauderdale Shooter Was on FBI’s Radar

The gunman who killed five people and wounded eight others at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Friday had appeared on the FBI’s radar prior to the tragic incident — personally offering the law enforcement agency warnings about his mental state.

Esteban Santiago, 26, reportedly walked into an FBI office in Anchorage, Alaska, in November saying he was hearing voices, claiming the CIA was forcing him to watch ISIS propaganda videos and saying that ISIS was controlling his mind, according to NBC News. Federal law enforcement officials said that Santiago voluntarily attended a mental health facility for psychological treatment after the FBI notified local law enforcement officials. The FBI conducted interviews and checks before subsequently closing its case.

“This cowardly, heinous act resulted in the deaths of five people.”

Santiago left the FBI office claiming he did not wish to hurt anyone. But after he exited his flight from Alaska to Florida just before 1 p.m. Friday, Santiago retrieved a gun he had carried in a checked bag from the baggage claim and opened fire in what became the first mass shooting in the U.S. in 2017.

“He eventually retrieved a firearm and began indiscriminately shooting,” Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters. “This cowardly, heinous act resulted in the deaths of five people.”

Santiago’s aunt, Maria Ruiz, told NJ.com he had “lost his mind” following his discharge from overseas service in Iraq with the National Guard last year as he struggled to adjust back to civilian life.

The failure of the nation’s top law enforcement agency to stop the tragic attack despite being aware of the danger echoed the circumstances of the Pulse nightclub shooter in Orlando.

When Omar Mateen opened fire inside the gay Pulse nightclub June 12, he killed 49 people and wounded 53 others before police officers shot and killed him. Mateen called 911 and claimed allegiance to the Islamic State just prior to carrying out the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil after the events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.

As further details emerged surrounding the nightclub shooter’s background and history, FBI Director James Comey revealed that the FBI had investigated and interrogated Mateen three times over the past few years over possible connections to radicalized Islamic leanings. Comey claimed there was nothing the FBI agents “should have done differently” in their investigation into Mateen.

“I don’t see anything in reviewing our work that our agents should have done differently,” Comey said in June. “But we’ll look at it in an open and honest way.”

“Our work is very challenging. We are looking for needles in a nationwide haystack, but we are also called up to figure out which pieces of hay might someday become needles. That is hard work,” Comey added. “If we can find a way to do that better, we will.”

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As for the Fort Lauderdale shooter, FBI Special Agent in Charge George Piro in the Miami division said Santiago remains in federal custody as a motive is being determined.

“We are looking at all avenues, we have not ruled out terrorism and we will be pursuing every angle,” Piro said.

After this second recent mass shooting in Florida occurred, the U.S. and its airports must consider what further measures they could have taken to prevent such crimes while deliberating over what future measures they can take to combat these threats.

“The citizens of Florida will not tolerate senseless acts of evil. You just can’t imagine how this could ever happen in a state like ours,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said. “My heart goes out to every family impacted, the families that lost their loved ones, and the families and the individuals that still have loved ones still in the hospital fighting for their life.”