Florida Airport Shooter Esteban Santiago Gets Life in Prison

Esteban Santiago, an Iraq war veteran who killed five people and injured six others when he opened fire at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 2017, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison, the Department of Justice announced. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty in May to 11 charges as part of a plea deal in which prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty. “While nothing can ever heal the wounds inflicted by the defendant’s unspeakable and horrific acts of violence, we hope that the life sentence imposed today provides at least some sense of justice for the victims and their loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg. Santiago carried out the attack on Jan. 6, 2017, shooting passengers who were picking up their luggage in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2, according to court records.