Military Veteran Responsible for Florida Airport Shooting Takes Plea Deal Instead of Death Penalty

—blogged by @lovelikejhoney

In early January of 2017, Iraqi war veteran, Esteban Santiago, opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, shooting until he ran out of ammunition. Using a Walther 9mm pistol he retrieved from his checked luggage, Santiago managed to wound six people and take five lives.

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Santiago was taken into custody and charged in a federal indictment with 11 counts of performing an act of violence against a person at an airport serving international civil aviation that caused death or serious bodily injury, six counts of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence — and five counts of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm. Although  the attacker confessed the shooting was on the behalf of ISIS, personal relationship, communication or links to the terrorist organization were not found— therefore, Santiago will not face terrorism-related charges.

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Originally, the 26-year-old pleaded not guilty to all 22 charges; but, as of yesterday, he has accepted a deal, pleading guilty to all charges for a life sentence without parole in exchange for the possibility of the death penalty through trial. Attorneys and authorities reached out to the victims and their families for approval before the court considered moving forward with the plea deal. “Avoiding a trial, with this plea, is in the best interests of all the families involved,” said Assistant US Public Defender Eric Cohen.

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Furthermore, US District Judge Beth Bloom ordered Santiago to undergo a mental evaluation before signing the plea deal. Apparently, federal authorities in Alaska said Santiago visited an FBI office several months before the attack and told them he was hearing voices and that his mind was being controlled by the CIA. He voluntarily checked himself into a mental health center for evaluation and was released several days later. Relatives also said Santiago returned from military service with mental and emotional problems.

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“This court has an obligation to ensure that Mr. Santiago has the ability to knowingly and competently enter a plea and waive his rights,” Bloom said. The next hearing is scheduled for May 23, 2018.