Five Killed in Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A US army veteran who said the government was controlling his mind has shot dead five people at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida.
Authorities identified the suspected shooter as Esteban Santiago, 26, from Anchorage, Alaska.
Santiago served in Iraq with the National Guard before being demoted and discharged last year for poor performance.
His brother said he had recently been getting psychological treatment.
A law enforcement official said that Santiago had walked into the FBI office in Anchorage in November to say that the US government was controlling his mind and making him watch Daesh (ISIL) videos.
Santiago had been questioned by agents before police took him for a mental health evaluation but the official said that he had not seemed intent on hurting anyone.
Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary, said he was at the airport and "everyone was running" when shots were fired.
As well as the five dead, eight others were injured.
Santiago was taken away by police after throwing his gun down and lying spread-eagle on the ground, according to a witness, Sky News reported.
Florida governor Rick Scott told reporters the shooting was "a senseless act of evil".