- Title: Florida governor calls airport shooting an 'hateful, evil attack' on state
- Date: 7th January 2017
- Summary: FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 7, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT ON TARMAC
- Embargoed: 22nd January 2017 14:58
- Keywords: Florida airport shooting Governer Rick Scott Fort Lauderdale airport Esteban Santiago
- Location: FORT LAUDERADALE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- City: FORT LAUDERADALE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA0045Y2YQFB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES
Florida governor Rick Scott condemned the mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale's airport that killed five people on Saturday (January 7).
Speaking at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the second largest in South Florida, Scott said: "Yesterday, we experienced an absolute hateful, evil attack on our state. People trying to live their lives and enjoy their week-end were senselessly murdered. It was an absolute horrific day."
Authorities said they had taken decorated Iraq war veteran Esteban Santiago into custody following the shooting and questioned him at length. The 26-year-old was arrested, booked and jailed on suspicion of murder early on Saturday, according to Broward County Sheriff's Office.
"The person responsible for this act will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law. When you hurt one of us, you hurt all of us," Scott said about Santiago.
In addition to the five killed, eight people were wounded by gunfire and some three dozen were taken to hospital with bruises or broken bones.
"We are a strong and resilient state. We are not going to let attacks like this tear us apart," Scott added promising to provide updates as they come along.
Authorities said Santiago, 26, arrived in Fort Lauderdale shortly before 1 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) on Friday (January 6) on a connecting flight from Alaska.
Santiago served from 2007 to 2016 in the Puerto Rico National Guard and Alaska National Guard including a deployment to Iraq from 2010 to 2011, according to the Pentagon.
A private first class and combat engineer, he received half a dozen medals before being transferred to the inactive ready reserve in August last year.
Nearly two months ago a former Southwest Airlines worker killed an employee of the company at Oklahoma City's airport in what police called a premeditated act.
The deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history took place last June, when a gunman apparently inspired by Islamic State killed 49 people and wounded 53 at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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