On Friday, January 6^th, a gunman opened fire in the baggage claim area in Terminal 2 of the Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport.  Law enforcement officials were quick to identify Esteban Santiago as the prime suspect in the attack, which killed five individuals and resulted in injuries to several others.

Santiago is a resident of Alaska and was a member of the Alaska Army National Guard until August of 2016, when he was let go on the basis of unsatisfactory performance.  He also previously completed a 10-month tour of Iraq and his family reported that he came back as a changed individual.

In November, just a couple months prior to the Fort Lauderdale attack, Santiago turned himself in to the FBI office in Anchorage.  He informed agents that he was hearing voices and felt compelled to watch ISIS videos.  This information reasonably concerned the officials, and they confiscated his gun.  They also ordered a mental health evaluation.  However, Santiago was not medically adjudicated, and, as a result, he received his gun back the following month.

Santiago flew from Anchorage to Fort Lauderdale on a Delta Air Lines flight.  The man only checked one bag, a handgun case which contained his pistol.  Law enforcement officials remain unsure as to why Santiago traveled to Fort Lauderdale.  However, Geogre Piro, the FBI agent in charge of investigating the shooting, declared on Saturday that the shooter “came here specifically to carry out this horrific attack”.

Law enforcement officials have also yet to identify a motive for the shooting.

Following the gunfire, which killed five people, the airport terminal became chaotic.  The panic was also further intensified by rumors of a possible second shooter, which proved untrue.  In the rushed evacuation of Terminal 2, almost 40 others were wounded, whether bruises, sprains, or even broken bones.

A video and other images of the attack were posted online.

At this time, the victims of the terrifying attack have been identified.  Terry Andres was 62 years old and was only just beginning a vacation with his wife.  His family remembers Terry as a caring man, who adored his family, especially his grandchildren.  His wife, Ann Andres, was not hurt in the shooting.

Michael Oehme was also identified as a victim.  He was at the airport on his way to a Caribbean cruise with his wife, Kari Oehme.  She was also injured in the shooting, but is expected to recover.  Senator Chuck Grassley, of the Oehme’s home state, Iowa, took to Twitter to ask others to “Pray as I will for the Oehme family…”.

Shirley Timmons was at the Fort Lauderdale airport with her husband of 51 years, who was her high school sweetheart.  She is remembered for being a wonderful mother, wife, and grandmother.

Olga Woltering had traveled with her husband Ralph, from her home in Cobb County, Georgia to Fort Lauderdale.  Her husband was not seriously injured.  She is remembered especially by her church community for being full of joy and kindness.

Mary Louise Amziel of Ohio has just recently been identified as the final victim of the despicable attack.

Despite the geographical distance, the horrific event at the Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport did not go unnoticed by the students of Hingham High.

“It’s scary, especially given the fact that public shootings seem to be almost a norm for our society,” said senior Emma-Leigh Lamonde.  She concluded that it was “not an uplifting start to a new year”.

Senior John Joyce echoed Lamonde when asked about the attacks.  “It seems like shootings happen every month in this country so to hear about this shooting left me feeling like any steps we as a nation have taken toward security in our airports and in general are only the beginning steps on the road to safety in our society,” said John.