CRIME

Esteban Santiago enters 'not guilty' plea

Alexi C. Cardona
alexi.cardona@naplesnews.com; 239-403-6153
An undated handout photo made available by the Broward County Sheriff's Department shows Esteban Santiago in custody following a shooting which left at least five people dead and several injured at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale.

FORT LAUDERDALE - Esteban Santiago, accused of killing five people and injuring six others in the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport shooting, pleaded not guilty to nearly two dozen federal charges during an arraignment Monday morning.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer read the 17-page indictment to Santiago, including the grand jury’s special findings and the names of the people who were killed. After reading each of the 22 counts, Seltzer asked Santiago whether he understood the charges against him.

Santiago, his hands cuffed in front of him as he stood at a wooden lectern in the front of the courtroom with his attorney beside him, replied “yes” when Seltzer asked him to affirm his understanding. Santiago leaned over the lectern and appeared to read along as Seltzer read the counts one by one, his attorney often pointing to the pages in front of them.

His attorney, Eric Cohen, told the judge the defendant was pleading not guilty to the charges. Cohen took over the case from Santiago’s previous public defender, Robert Berube.

Santiago, wearing a red prison jumpsuit that read "Max Custody Inmate" across the back, appeared calm in court.

Santiago, 26, is charged with five counts of causing death at an international airport, six counts of airport violence resulting in serious injury, five counts of causing death during a violent crime and six counts of using a firearm during a violent crime, according to the indictment. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison or receive the death penalty.

Grand jurors found that Santiago “created a grave risk of death” to others and that he executed the attack “after substantial planning and premeditation.”

The five counts related to murder carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty. The six charges of airport violence resulting in serious injury carry a maximum sentence of 20 years per count. The remaining 11 charges of causing death during a violent crime and using a firearm during a violent crime carry a penalty of death or life imprisonment.

The Iraq war veteran with a history of mental health issues has been held on no bond at the Broward Main Jail since his arrest. Santiago was hospitalized in November after going to an FBI field office in Anchorage, Alaska, and telling authorities his mind was being controlled by the government, he was being forced to watch terrorist videos and he was hearing voices.

His gun was confiscated during his six-day hospital stay, but it was ultimately returned by the Anchorage Police Department. Officials say the 9 mm pistol used in the airport shooting was the same firearm returned to Santiago after he was discharged from the hospital.

On Jan. 6, Santiago opened fire at random in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2 inside the Fort Lauderdale airport, firing 10 to 15 rounds from his 9 mm handgun and aiming for people’s heads, according to a criminal complaint filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Esteban Santiago, suspect in Friday's shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, is escorted in to the Broward County Jail after his first court appearance on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017.

When he ran out of ammunition, he dropped to the floor before being taken into custody by a Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy.

The motive for the attack is still not known. Santiago initially told investigators that he was under government mind control and was hearing voices. He later said he communicated with ISIS sympathizers on jihadist chat rooms, according to authorities. Officials seized Santiago’s electronics and those of his family to investigate his claims.

Santiago is accused of killing five people: Shirley Wells Timmons, 70; Mary Louise Amzibel, 69; Michael John Oehme, 57; Olga M. Woltering, 84; and Terry Michael Andres, 62.

Those injured in the shooting were identified only by their initials in the indictment.

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