Grand Jury Formally Charges Man Accused In Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- A federal grand jury indicted the man accused in a deadly mass shooting at a Fort Lauderdale airport.
On Thursday, a federal grand jury handed down a 22-count indictment against Esteban Santiago in connection to the shooting on January 6th at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
According to the indictment, Santiago is charged with eleven counts of performing an act of violence against a person at an airport serving international civil aviation that caused death or serious bodily injury, six counts of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and five counts of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm.
Related: Ft. Lauderdale Airport Holds Moment Of Silence For Shooting Victims
Santiago's arraignment is scheduled for Monday, January 30th at 10 a.m. before a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale.
Deputies say, Santiago, 26, pulled a gun out and began shooting at travelers in a baggage claim area of Terminal 2. Santiago told investigators that he planned the attack, buying a one-way ticket to the Fort Lauderdale airport, a federal complaint said.
Five people died in the shooting and six other people were injured. The shooting also left thousands of travelers stranded at the airport for hours.
Santiago's charges carry a maximum sentence of death or life in prison, if convicted.
