Police: Suspected Gunman Got Into An Argument During Flight

CBS Miami

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) — Federal law enforcement sources said the suspected gunman in a deadly attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport got into an argument during his flight from Alaska to Florida.

They’re now investigating whether that’s what set off a shooting rampage that left 5 dead and 8 others wounded.  

Esteban Santiago Ruiz, 26, in an undated photo. (Source: Twitter)
Esteban Santiago Ruiz, 26, in an undated photo. (Source: Twitter)

Esteban Santiago-Ruiz, 26, took a flight from Alaska to Florida Friday with a stop in Minnesota, officials said. Somewhere along the way, he got into an argument.

According to Broward Commissioner Chip LaMarca, Santiago-Ruiz arrived from a flight with a gun that he checked in.

“He claimed his bag and took the gun from baggage and went into the bathroom to load it. Came out shooting people in baggage claim,” LaMarca said.

Earlier reports claimed Santiago-Ruiz came in on a flight from Canada. On the company’s Twitter account, Air Canada confirmed that no one by that name was on their flight.

Air Canada flights arrive to Terminal 2, where the shooting took place.

It was later determined that Santiago-Ruiz was on a Delta Air Lines flight.

Police were able to apprehend the suspect without having to fire their own weapons when he apparently ran out of bullets. Witnesses said he threw down his firearm and laid down on the floor.

Santiago-Ruiz was born to Puerto Rican parents in New Jersey and recently became a father of a baby boy.

He also had military experience.

His aunt, according to nj.com, said after a tour of duty in Iraq, he “lost his mind” and was hospitalized at one point for mental health issues. He was given an honorable discharge from the Alaska National Guard for performance-related issues.

In November 2016, he walked into an FBI office in Anchorage claiming that he was being forced to fight for ISIS and was sent to a psychiatric hospital, officials revealed.

In 2011 or 2012, he was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations for child porn. Three weapons and a computer were seized, but there was not enough evidence to prosecute, according to law enforcement sources.

Santiago also has a record for minor traffic violations and was evicted in 2015 for not paying rent.

The suspect wasn’t hurt in the incident and no one else was taken into custody.

Family: Shooting Suspect ‘Lost His Mind’ After Tour In Iraq

5 thoughts on “Police: Suspected Gunman Got Into An Argument During Flight

  1. “Police were able to apprehend the suspect without having to fire their own weapons when he apparently ran out of bullets.”

    Bullsh#t! Since when has THAT ever mattered to the pigs.

    “Witnesses said he threw down his firearm and laid down on the floor.”

    I’d have to question every last one of them under Sodium Pentothal before I’d believe a word of it.

    “In November 2016, he walked into an FBI office in Anchorage claiming that he was being forced to fight for ISIS and was sent to a psychiatric hospital, officials revealed.”

    They have their patsy.

    As well as furthering their Veteran gun confiscation agenda.

  2. Former military..claiming he was being forced to fight for Isis…which is true…mentally unstable..unloads into a crowd..lays down and waits to be taken…MK Ultra.

  3. Drugged, Ultra’d, drugged……….

    1. “In November 2016, he walked into an FBI office in Anchorage claiming that he was being forced to fight for ISIS and was sent to a psychiatric hospital, officials revealed.”…? ISIS, US created.

    2. “In 2011 or 2012, he was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations for child porn. Three weapons and a computer were seized, but there was not enough evidence to prosecute, according to law enforcement sources.”…? T/Here we go! blackmail, threat, just enough evidence? to harass, encourage, condition, exploit…..

    3. Santiago also has a record for minor traffic violations and was evicted in 2015 for not paying rent. My Gwad did this really have to be added? wtf? smh

  4. “In November 2016, he walked into an FBI office in Anchorage claiming that he was being forced to fight for ISIS and was sent to a psychiatric hospital, officials revealed.”

    Oh yea, this has FBI blackmail/false flag operation written all over it.

    “Earlier reports claimed Santiago-Ruiz came in on a flight from Canada. On the company’s Twitter account, Air Canada confirmed that no one by that name was on their flight.”

    Idiots can’t even get their story straight again.

    And why in the hell would you start shooting people at an airport over an argument? If you wanted to kill the person you are arguing with, just do it after the person leaves or is in some secluded area. Why the hell would you decide to shoot random people? Makes no sense unless someone told him to do it.

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