Alaska man won’t face death penalty in fatal Florida airport shooting

Update | 8:20 a.m. Tuesday

An Alaska man will not face the death penalty on charges of killing five people and wounding six in a shooting rampage at a Florida airport, authorities announced Tuesday.


Original post | 6:39 a.m. Tuesday

MIAMI — A decision is due on whether federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case of an Alaska man accused of killing five people and wounding six in a Florida airport shooting.

Miami U.S. Attorney Benjamin Greenberg says the decision will be announced Tuesday morning in the case of Esteban Santiago, 28. There is also a court hearing Tuesday.

Santiago pleaded not guilty to a 22-count indictment in the January 2017 shooting in a baggage claim area at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Authorities say he got a handgun from checked luggage, loaded it in a bathroom and came out firing.

Since his arrest, Santiago has been treated at a Miami jail for schizophrenia.

He complained of mental problems before the shooting but was not barred from possessing a gun.

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