FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – SWAT teams are scouring the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to make sure the airport is safe after five people were shot and killed inside the airport just before 1 p.m. on Friday. Authorities say the gunman was a passenger who shot people with a gun he had checked in his luggage.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said during a 3:25 p.m news conference that the scene at the airport is considered fluid and active.
Israel said there was only one shooter involved in one shooting incident that happened downstairs in terminal 2. Five other people were injured in the shooting. Israel said the names of the victims have not been identified.
“We are not releasing any information on any of the victims until we identify the, which is going to take some time,” he said.
“We have the shooter in custody. He is unharmed,” said Israel, who added that detectives are working to figure out a motive for the shootings which he described as horrific.
NBC News reported that the shooter reloaded twice and after the shootings went on the ground and waited for police to arrest him. NBC News reported that the shooter’s name is Estevan Santiago, age 26.
The brother of the suspect told the Associated Press said he received psychological treatment in Alaska and had served in Guard.
CNN is reporting investigators are looking into claims the suspect got into an altercation on board.
Broward County Commissioner Chip Lamarca said on his Facebook page that the shooter was a passenger on a flight with a checked gun. He claimed his bag and took the gun from baggage and went into the bathroom to load it. He then came out of the bathroom and started shooting people in the baggage claim area.
The airport has been shut down. At 3:10 p.m. on Friday, the FAA tweeted that it has put a ground stop on flights around the country that are destined for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The flights are being held on the ground at the origination airport. Travelers headed to FLL should check with their air carriers.
A heavy SWAT presence remained at the airport on Friday afternoon.
Shortly after the shooting, news helicopters hovering over the scene showed hundreds of people standing on the tarmac as an ambulance drove by and numerous law enforcement officers rushed to the scene. Passengers who appear to have been evacuated from planes could be seen standing on the tarmac. Other passengers could be seen disembarking a Delta jet that pulled up to a gate. News helicopters showed police cars blocking the entrance to the airport.
Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer tweeted that he was at the airport when shots were fired and “everyone is running.”
Below is additional information from the Associated Press-
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – The Latest on the shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport (all times local):
3:35 p.m.
A county official says the Fort Lauderdale airport shooter pulled a gun out of a checked bag, loaded in a bathroom and started shooting, killing five people and wounding at least eight.
Chip LaMarca, a Broward County commissioner, was briefed on the airport shooting by Broward Sheriff’s office. He told The Associated Press by phone that the shooter was a passenger on a Canadian flight and had checked a gun.
LaMarca says the shooter pulled out the gun in the bathroom after claiming his bag.
Sheriff Scott Israel says the gunman was not harmed and that law enforcement did not fire any shots. He says it is not yet known if the shooting was an act of terror.
Israel also says there was nothing to substantiate reports of a second shooting at the airport.
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3:15 p.m.
A passenger says he heard the first gunshots as he picked up his luggage from a baggage claim carousel in a shooting at a Florida airport that left five dead and eight wounded.
John Schilcher told Fox News the person next to him fell to the ground Friday. He says other people started falling, and he then dropped to the ground with his wife and mother-in-law. Schilcher says “the firing just went on and on.”
He says the shooter emptied his weapon and reloaded during an eerily quiet lull in the gunfire. Schilcher says he didn’t assume it was safe until he saw a police officer standing over him at the Fort Lauderdale international airport.
He says he remained on the ground and was told not to move as authorities investigated unconfirmed reports of a second shooting.
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3 p.m.
Officials say there have been unconfirmed reports of additional shots fired at the international airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after a gunman killed five people and wounded eight there.
On Friday afternoon, the Broward County sheriff’s office said on its Twitter account: “Active search: Unconfirmed reports of addt’l shots fired on airport property.”
Earlier in the afternoon, the shooting stopped all traffic at the airport. Passengers were evacuated from the terminal 2 baggage claim area. Passengers returned to the airport as officials said the lone gunman was in custody. But TV reports showed some passengers evacuating again, several looking panicked and ducking behind cars or hiding.
Witness Judah Fernandez told CNN he heard what he believes were the first shots, re-entered the airport, but then rushed out again shortly later to the tarmac. He said: “Everyone’s running now.” He said both security officials and passengers were running.
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2:50 p.m.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says the Fort Lauderdale airport gunman was carrying a military ID with the name Esteban Santiago, though it’s not clear if it belonged to him or to someone else.
Nelson did not spell the name for reporters during a news conference Friday. Nelson says the baggage claim area is a “soft target.” The airport had initially reported an “incident” in the baggage claim area.
Authorities say five people were killed and eight wounded in the shooting.
Nelson says a motive still hasn’t been determined.
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2:30 p.m.
Authorities say five people were killed and eight were wounded after a lone suspect opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, international airport.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office tweeted the information following Friday afternoon’s shooting.
Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief told CNN that authorities “have an active crime scene investigation involving terminal 2.”
News stations showed video of medics taking care of a bleeding victim outside the airport. Helicopters hovering over the scene showed hundreds of people standing on the tarmac as an ambulance drove by and numerous law enforcement officers, including tactical units, rushed to the scene.
Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer tweeted that he was at the airport when shots were fired and “everyone is running.”
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1:50 p.m.
Authorities say multiple people have died after a lone suspect opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, international airport.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office tweeted the information following Friday afternoon’s shooting.
Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief told CNN that authorities “have an active crime scene investigation involving terminal 2.”
Miami area television stations reported that at least six people were shot. News stations showed video of medics taking care of a bleeding victim outside the airport. News helicopters hovering over the scene showed hundreds of people standing on the tarmac as an ambulance drove by and numerous law enforcement officers, including tactical units, rushed to the scene.
Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer tweeted that he was at the airport when shots were fired and “everyone is running.”
Stay with WFLA.com for more information on this developing story.