Suspected Fort Lauderdale Shooter Esteban Santiago-Ruiz: Five Fast Facts
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A lone gunman opened fire inside the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday afternoon, killing five people and wounding at least eight, according to authorities.
The suspect was identified as 26-year-old Esteban Santiago-Ruiz.
What do we know about him so far?
1. He has ties to the Tri-State area.
Santiago-Ruiz was born in New Jersey, law enforcement sources told CBS News.
He also has an aunt who lives on 20th Street just off Kerrigan Avenue in Union City, New Jersey, the FBI confirmed.
2. He was living in Alaska.
Santiago-Ruiz was most recently a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, according to Anchorage police.
He flew from Alaska to Florida, making a stop in Minnesota, federal law enforcement sources told CBS News.
PHOTOS: Gunman Opens Fire At Fort Lauderdale Airport, Killing 5 And Wounding 8
3. He has ties to the military.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Florida) said the suspect was carrying a military ID.
"We don't know if that's active, if that's another family member's ID. We'll have to determine that," Nelson said.
4. He got the gun from his checked luggage.
Santiago-Ruiz got the gun out of a checked bag, loaded it in a bathroom and started shooting, according to a county official.
It is legal for airline passengers to carry guns and ammunition as long as the firearms are put in a checked bag – not in a carry-on – and are unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container. Guns must be declared to the airline at check-in.
But Air Canada said they have no record of a passenger by that name or anyone checking guns on any flight.
5. He may have recently contacted the FBI.
A man believed to have been Santiago-Ruiz walked into FBI offices in Anchorage two months ago, claiming the government was forcing him to watch ISIS videos, sources told CBS News.
Sources also tell CBS News that he had a handgun in his possession when he walked into the federal office. The weapon was held while he was interviewed by the FBI. Anchorage police took possession of the weapon when they transported Santiago-Ruiz to the hospital for a medical evaluation, but returned it to him after the evaluation was complete according to sources.
It is not known whether the weapon he had with him at that time was the weapon used in Friday's attack.
