Fort Lauderdale Shooter Now Tells FBI He Carried Out Attack for ISIS
Esteban Santiago, the man charged with killing five people at the Fort Lauderdale airport, told FBI agents he carried out the attack on behalf of ISIS, FBI special agent Michael Ferlazzo testified at Santiago’s bond hearing Tuesday.
Ferlazzo, who conducted the interview, said that Santiago claimed to be fighting for ISIS and that he’d been in touch with like-minded people via jihadi chat rooms who were planning attacks as well.
However, ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
Santiago appeared to harbor delusions about being controlled by ISIS, and reportedly walked into an FBI field office in Alaska to confess his delusions about being controlled by ISIS. He also reportedly spiraled out of control in the year leading up to the rampage. He had his guns confiscated by police twice and told his family he was hearing voices. Santiago was a U.S. army veteran who deployed to Iraq.
Santiago killed five and wounded six in a shooting rampage in the baggage claim area of Fort Lauderdale airport. He reportedly checked his gun in his bag, loaded it in the bathroom, and randomly executed his fellow passengers.
