Overview

Esteban Santiago is a U.S. citizen and convicted ISIS sympathizer who on January 6, 2017, carried out a gun attack at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, killing five people and wounding six others.“United States v. Esteban Santiago Ruiz,” United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 7, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/file/923466/download. Santiago was arrested after running out of ammunition and surrendering to police.“United States v. Esteban Santiago Ruiz,” United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 7, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/file/923466/download. In the following days, he was charged with weapons charges, as well as an act of violence at an international airport resulting in serious bodily injury.“United States v. Esteban Santiago Ruiz,” United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 7, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/file/923466/download. Approximately one week following the shooting, Santiago told FBI agents that he had carried out the attack on behalf of ISIS. An FBI agent told the court that Santiago had been “in contact with like-minded individuals on the Dark Web.”Boris Sanchez, Kevin Conlon, “Fort Lauderdale shooter says he carried out attack for ISIS, FBI claims,” CNN, January 17, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/17/us/fort-lauderdale-shooter-isis-claim/;
Jay Weaver, “Accused airport shooter Esteban Santiago said he chatted online with jihadis,” Alaska Dispatch News, January 17, 2017, https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2017/01/17/airport-shooter-esteban-santiago-visited-jihadi-chat-rooms-online-prosecutors-say/. Santiago pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five life sentences plus 120 years in federal prison.Paula McMahon, “Airport Shooter Esteban Santiago to Plead Guilty, Spend Life in Prison,” South Florida Sun Sentinel, May 1, 2018, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-reg-esteban-santiago-death-penalty-decision-20180430-story.html; Paula McMahon, “Airport Shooter Esteban Santiago Sentenced to Five Life Terms and 120 Years in Prison,” South Florida Sun Sentinel, August 17, 2018, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-reg-airport-shooter-esteban-santiago-sentenced-20180817-story.html.

On January 5, 2017, Santiago took Delta Airlines Flight 1088 from Anchorage, Alaska, to Minneapolis, Minnesota. He landed on January 6 and took Delta Flight 2182 from Minneapolis to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Following his arrival, Santiago continued on to luggage claim to retrieve his checked bag, which contained a handgun that he had legally checked prior to his flight.“United States v. Esteban Santiago Ruiz,” United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 7, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/file/923466/download. After collecting his firearm, Santiago loaded the weapon—reportedly in the bathroom—and began indiscriminately firing in the baggage claim area in Terminal 2, killing five people and wounding six others.“United States v. Esteban Santiago Ruiz,” United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 7, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/file/923466/download. After running out of ammunition, he laid face down on the floor and waited for law enforcement to arrive on the scene. He was immediately arrested by an officer from the Broward’s Sheriff’s Department.“United States v. Esteban Santiago Ruiz,” United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 7, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/file/923466/download;
“Esteban Santiago Identified as Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooter,” NBC New York, January 7, 2016, http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/NJ-Shooter-Esteban-Santiago-who-was-fort-lauderdale-409914655.html.

Three months before the attack, Santiago told the FBI he was being exposed to terrorist propaganda. In November 2016, he walked into the FBI’s field office in Anchorage, claiming that the CIA was controlling his mind and forcing him to watch ISIS videos.Erik Ortiz and Tracy Connor, “Fort Lauderdale Shooting: Five Killed at Airport Shooting, Gunman ID’d as Esteban Santiago,” NBC News, January 7, 2017, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fort-lauderdale-shooting-five-killed-airport-shooting-gunman-idd-esteban-n704001. After evaluating his behavior, the FBI agents called local police who referred him to a mental health facility.Erik Ortiz and Tracy Connor, “Fort Lauderdale Shooting: Five Killed at Airport Shooting, Gunman ID’d as Esteban Santiago,” NBC News, January 7, 2017, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fort-lauderdale-shooting-five-killed-airport-shooting-gunman-idd-esteban-n704001. The FBI closed its assessment of Santiago after conducting interagency database checks and establishing that he did not have a connection to any terrorist group.“Esteban Santiago Identified as Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooter,” NBC New York, January 7, 2016, http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/NJ-Shooter-Esteban-Santiago-who-was-fort-lauderdale-409914655.html;
Caroline Linton, “Esteban Santiago-Ruiz: What we know so far about the suspected Fort Lauderdale shooter,” CBS News, January 6, 2017, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/esteban-santiago-ruiz-fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/.

Santiago was born in New Jersey in 1990, and his family moved to Puerto Rico when he was two years old.Erik Ortiz and Tracy Connor, “Fort Lauderdale Shooting: Five Killed at Airport Shooting, Gunman ID’d as Esteban Santiago,” NBC News, January 7, 2017, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fort-lauderdale-shooting-five-killed-airport-shooting-gunman-idd-esteban-n704001;
Caroline Linton, “Esteban Santiago-Ruiz: What we know so far about the suspected Fort Lauderdale shooter,” CBS News, January 6, 2017, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/esteban-santiago-ruiz-fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/. In 2007, he joined the Puerto Rico National Guard, with which he deployed to Iraq between April 2010 and February 2011.Nathaniel Herz, Chris Klint, Suzanna Caldwell, and Jerzy Shedlock, “Esteban Santiago, the suspect in Florida Airport shooting, was an Anchorage resident,” Alaska Dispatch News, January 7, 2017, https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2017/01/06/suspect-in-florida-airport-shooting-has-same-name-age-as-anchorage-man/. Following his deployment, he transferred to the Army Reserves and later moved to Anchorage, where he joined the National Guard in November 2014.“Esteban Santiago Identified as Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooter,” NBC New York, January 7, 2016, http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/NJ-Shooter-Esteban-Santiago-who-was-fort-lauderdale-409914655.html;
Nathaniel Herz, Chris Klint, Suzanna Caldwell, and Jerzy Shedlock, “Esteban Santiago, the suspect in Florida Airport shooting, was an Anchorage resident,” Alaska Dispatch News, January 7, 2017, https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2017/01/06/suspect-in-florida-airport-shooting-has-same-name-age-as-anchorage-man/. Santiago received a general discharge from the Alaskan guard for unsatisfactory performance.Caroline Linton, “Esteban Santiago-Ruiz: What we know so far about the suspected Fort Lauderdale shooter,” CBS News, January 6, 2017, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/esteban-santiago-ruiz-fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/. According to the Pentagon, Santiago had gone AWOL (absent without official leave) several times during his time with the Alaskan National Guard and was previously demoted.Caroline Linton, “Esteban Santiago-Ruiz: What we know so far about the suspected Fort Lauderdale shooter,” CBS News, January 6, 2017, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/esteban-santiago-ruiz-fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/.

Santiago had several run-ins with the police while living in Alaska. In January 2016, he was charged with assault and criminal mischief in a domestic violence case filed by his girlfriend. He reportedly choked her and struck her in the head. One month later, he violated the conditions of his release after police found him at her home.Nathaniel Herz, Chris Klint, Suzanna Caldwell, and Jerzy Shedlock, “Esteban Santiago, the suspect in Florida Airport shooting, was an Anchorage resident,” Alaska Dispatch News, January 7, 2017, https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2017/01/06/suspect-in-florida-airport-shooting-has-same-name-age-as-anchorage-man/;
Ray Sanchez, “What we know about the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting suspect,” CNN, January 7, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/index.html. He also received two minor offenses in 2015 of having no proof of insurance, as well as a taillight violation.Ray Sanchez, “What we know about the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting suspect,” CNN, January 7, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/index.html.

According to Santiago’s relatives, his behavior appeared peculiar ever since he returned from his deployment in Iraq in February 2011. His aunt told CNN that “his mind was not right,” and that “he seemed normal at times, but other times he seemed lost.”Ray Sanchez, “What we know about the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting suspect,” CNN, January 7, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/index.html. She revealed that Santiago “talked about all of the destruction [in Iraq] and the killing of children. He had visions all the time.”Ray Sanchez, “What we know about the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting suspect,” CNN, January 7, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/index.html. According to Santiago’s brother, Santiago had requested medical help from the Army and federal agencies after his deployment, and was hospitalized for several days.Ray Sanchez, “What we know about the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting suspect,” CNN, January 7, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/index.html.

According to authorities, Santiago admitted to planning the attack and purchasing a one-way ticket to Fort Lauderdale.“United States v. Esteban Santiago Ruiz,” United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 7, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/file/923466/download.

On April 30, 2018, Santiago pleaded guilty to the airport attack. The plea bargain stipulated a sentence of life imprisonment, in exchange for prosecutors agreeing not to seek the death penalty.Paula McMahon, “Airport Shooter Esteban Santiago to Plead Guilty, Spend Life in Prison,” South Florida Sun Sentinel, May 1, 2018, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-reg-esteban-santiago-death-penalty-decision-20180430-story.html. On August 17, 2018, he was sentenced to five life sentences plus 120 years in federal prison. At sentencing, District Judge Beth Bloom referred to his airport attack as “85 seconds of evil,” and stated that “it is difficult, if not impossible, for this court to separate the evil in your acts from the evil in the man.”Paula McMahon, “Airport Shooter Esteban Santiago Sentenced to Five Life Terms and 120 Years in Prison,” South Florida Sun Sentinel, August 17, 2018, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-reg-airport-shooter-esteban-santiago-sentenced-20180817-story.html.

Santiago is currently incarcerated at United States Penitentiary Allenwood in Pennsylvania.“ESTEBAN SANTIAGO-RUIZ,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed April 7, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/.