Florida airport shooting suspect could face death penalty

US prosecutors have filed charges against the Florida airport shooting suspect that could bring the death penalty if he is convicted.

A criminal complaint filed on Saturday by the Miami US attorney's office accuses 26-year-old Esteban Santiago of an act of violence at an international airport resulting in death. The punishment is execution or any prison sentence up to life.

Prosecutors also charged Santiago with two firearms offences.

Santiago is accused of fatally shooting five people and wounding six others Friday at a Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport baggage claim.

The FBI says Santiago travelled from Alaska to Fort Lauderdale specifically to carry out the shooting.

Santiago, an Iraq war veteran, is being held without bail. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday.

"Today's charges represent the gravity of the situation and reflect the commitment of federal, state and local law enforcement personnel to continually protect the community and prosecute those who target our residents and visitors," US Attorney Wifredo Ferrer said.

Authorities said during a news conference that they had interviewed roughly 175 people, including a lengthy interrogation with the co-operative suspect, a former National Guard soldier from Alaska. Flights had resumed at the Fort Lauderdale airport after the bloodshed, though the terminal where Friday's shooting happened remained closed.

Santiago spoke to investigators for several hours after he opened fire with a Walther 9mm semi-automatic handgun that he appears to have legally checked on a flight from Alaska. He had two magazines with him and emptied both of them, firing about 15 rounds, before he was arrested, the complaint said.

"We have not identified any triggers that would have caused this attack. We're pursuing all angles on what prompted him to carry out this horrific attack," FBI Agent George Piro said.

Investigators are combing through social media and other information to determine Santiago's motive, and it's too early to say whether terrorism played a role, Piro said.

In November, Santiago had walked into an FBI field office in Alaska saying the US government was controlling his mind and forcing him to watch Islamic State group videos, authorities said.

"He was a walk-in complaint. This is something that happens at FBI offices around the country every day," FBI agent Marlin Ritzman said.

On that day, 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 December 8, the gun was returned to Santiago. Authorities wouldn't say if it was the same gun used in the airport attack.

US Attorney Karen Loeffler said Santiago would have been able to legally possess a gun because he had not been judged mentally ill, which is a higher standard than having an evaluation.

Santiago had not been placed on the US no-fly list and appears to have acted alone, authorities said.

He had been discharged from the National Guard last year after being demoted for unsatisfactory performance. Bryan Santiago said his brother had requested psychological help but received little assistance.

Lives lost, those injured in airport massacre identified

The lives lost in the Florida airport massacre have started to be identified as their alleged killer was charged following the attack.

Esteban Santiago, 26, flew from Anchorage to Minneapolis-St. Paul and connected to Fort Lauderdale, where he shot dead five people and injured eight others.

The accused killer had served two tours in Iraq.

The victims of the attack include Olga Woltering of Atlanta, Georgia, a great grandmother who was about to leave on a cruise to celebrate her husband Ralph’s 90th birthday.

62-year-old Terry Andres, of Virginia, was holidaying with his wife when he was also shot dead. His partner escaped without harm.

Michael Oehme of Council Bluffs, Iowa was also identified as one of the five victims, according to local reports.

Oehme was also about to leave on a cruise with his wife Kari. Kari was shot in the shoulder but is expected to survive.

Another lucky to survive is Steve Frappier who was saved by his laptop, reportedly sticking out of his backpack. The computer stopped a bullet from hitting him, according to local media.

Fort Lauderdale Airport reopens

Florida's Fort Lauderdale International Airport was open again Saturday (local time) after Friday afternoon’s shooting rampage that sent thousands scrambling for safety.

Santiago is in custody and being questioned by the FBI over the shooting that shut down the airport, a major gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America.

Santiago, who earlier complained that the CIA was forcing him to watch Islamic State jihadist videos, allegedly opened fire randomly with a semi-automatic handgun Friday shortly before 1.00pm in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2.

The Fort Lauderdale airport announced at 5.00am Saturday via Twitter that they were again open for business, but urged passengers to check with their airlines.

Witness: “The person right next to me fell to the ground”

Witness John Schlicher told Fox News that he was picking up his first bag as he "heard the first shot. As I did, the person right next to me fell to the ground... It was very surreal."

The shooter "was holding a handgun. He was firing into the crowd. Everyone was standing there waiting for the luggage," he said.

Santiago had traveled from Alaska to Fort Lauderdale, with a stopover in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the special agent in charge of Miami's FBI field office, George Piro, told reporters late Friday.

"We're looking at several investigative leads not only in Alaska but other states that we have determined that he's either traveled to or has connections there," Piro said.

The suspect had a gun inside his checked luggage, after declaring the weapon with airport authorities, and then used it in the shooting rampage, law enforcement sources told US media.

Santiago was detained without law enforcement firing any shots, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters.

Piro said authorities were "looking at every angle, including the terrorism angle," but that it would take time to determine the nature of the attack.

Suspect was 'Lone shooter', “it was like he lost his mind”

In November, Santiago had walked into the FBI's Anchorage office exhibiting "erratic behavior" that led agents to contact police, who took him to a medical facility for a mental health evaluation, Piro said.

Santiago claimed he was being forced to fight for the Islamic State group and that the CIA was controlling his mind to make him watch IS videos, several US outlets reported, citing unnamed law enforcement officials.

Santiago, who was born in New Jersey and raised in Puerto Rico, is a former member of the Puerto Rico and Alaska National Guard. He served in Iraq from April 2010 to February 2011, and ended his service in August.

Santiago only reached the rank of private first class and was given a general discharge for unsatisfactory performance, ABC News reported.

An aunt, Maria Luisa Ruiz, told the NorthJersey.com news site that Santiago became a father to a baby boy in September, and that he was having mental problems.

"Like a month ago, it was like he lost his mind," Ruiz said. "He said he saw things."

She added: "My family and I are in shock right now... It's sad but we have to confront the situation."

FBI agents later interviewed Ruiz, CNN reported.

Mayor Barbara Sharief told CNN that the gunman "was a lone shooter, and we have no evidence at this time that he was acting with anyone else."

Run and hide

In addition to those killed and wounded, up to 40 people went to the hospital for various other injuries such as falling and sprains, Israel said.

US President Barack Obama expressed "how heartbroken we are for the families who've been affected" during excerpts of an interview with ABC News.

Florida Governor Rick Scott, who rushed to the airport to be briefed, told reporters that those responsible would be "held accountable to the full extent of the law."

Scott said that he had contacted President-elect Donald Trump, who said that he was "monitoring the terrible situation in Florida."

"Thoughts and prayers for all. Stay safe!" Trump tweeted.

Airport personnel were also busy in the complicated task of returning nearly 20,000 pieces of luggage and other personal items abandoned by passengers fleeing at the time of the shooting, officials said.