Mass Shooting at Fort Lauderdale Airport

Reports are emerging that police have responded to a shooting inside Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport in South Florida. Early reports indicate that nine people were shot, five of whom are dead.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer was traveling from the airport at the time of the incident. “Everyone is running,” he tweeted. “The police said there is one shooter and five victims.”

This is a developing story. It will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

Update: News outlets are currently reporting that the shooter is in custody.

Update: Incident is being treated as a possible terror attack. At least 5 people are confirmed dead.

Update: A county official says the Fort Lauderdale airport shooter pulled a gun out of a checked bag, loaded in a bathroom and started shooting, killing five people and wounding at least eight.

Update: Shooter identified as Iraq war veteran Esteban Santiago, 26. He is in custody and awaiting charges.

The motive for the shooting has yet to be determined, but in November, Santiago had walked into an FBI field office in Alaska saying the U.S. government was controlling his mind and forcing him to watch Islamic State group videos, authorities said.

Santiago had a loaded magazine on him, but had left a gun in his vehicle, along with his newborn child, authorities said. Officers seized the weapon and local officers took him to get a mental health evaluation. His girlfriend picked up the child.

On Dec. 8, the gun was returned to Santiago. Authorities wouldn’t say if it was the same gun used in the airport attack.