Shots Fired in Terminal 2

by William Hazelgrove

  Kitty ends up sending the photographer a nice card and a check. We never hear from her again, but she did a very human thing on a very bad day.

  The kids never skip a beat. No bad dreams or nightmares. They are celebrities at their schools for a few days from being on television and then it is forgotten. Kids seem to compartmentalize, and I go with the police story that there was only one shooter and that we probably just heard some loud noises. Clay isn't buying it, of course, but the girls seem to accept this and so our time in the airport becomes the weird time we ran like crazy from the loud noises.

  A second shooter has never been identified. I could list all the people who ran from those shots but to what end? This is not a conspiracy book. I am not trying to prove there was a second shooter. There was. I heard the shots. I ran for my life from the shots. So did everyone else. They shut down the airport because of that second shooter. They had to evacuate ten thousand people because of that second shooter. I have no idea why the police cling to the lone gunman scenario when Terminal 1 was evacuated and searched and person after person said they heard the shots.

  Another book could take this on and make a very strong case. The shots could have come from the police, maybe a SWAT team member. Maybe it was an individual whose gun went off. Or it could have been a coordinated attack. I have no idea. All I know is what I heard and what my family heard and how we ran with a thousand other people to get away from those shots. The rest is left to history to decide what happened. I did not run from a folding chair falling or someone yelling fire, and neither did anyone else.

  If you surf the internet, you can find the interviews I gave at the airport. I found the CNN interview where the man said I didn't know what I was talking about. It is on a right-wing website that cites it as fake news put up by gun-control activists. There is another clip of Callie being interviewed and the site claims she is an actress. I can only imagine what the Sandy Hook parents went through when people accused them of staging the deaths of their children for an agenda. But this is the world we live in.

  I didn't include the Pulse Nightclub shooting in this book as it was deemed the act of a terrorist, although it was horrific. Sadly, there have been many shootings since I began this book and there will be many more. There was a domestic shooting in our very sleepy town recently. A father killed his two daughters. I happened to be at a Starbucks working when I heard the police cars. Later, Kitty and I went to a restaurant down the street and we saw all those police cars and ambulances. It looked like Fort Lauderdale all over again. We both had trouble sleeping that night. I would say we both have a touch of PTSD because the strange uneasiness returned and I felt the same emotions of that day in the Florida airport. But it passed eventually.

  Esteban Santiago took a plea deal where he will be sentenced to life in prison and the state will not pursue the death penalty.1 He is on medication for schizophrenia. The wounded have all been released from the hospital. Fort Lauderdale hired a consultant to examine the police response to the shooting. The ninety-page report said the Broward Country Police mishandled the response to the shooting at the airport.

  “The words ‘shots fired’ spread throughout the airport and triggered pandemonium as thousands of travelers, airline and airport employees began to escape from the concourses, gates, baggage claim areas, curbside loading areas and parking garages of all four terminals,” the report states.2

  Another report, by an outside consultant, concluded that the police and the airport did little to control the situation: “The shooting was followed by panic in other terminals, as rumors of additional shooters led to stampedes onto the tarmac. Some of those rumors were caused by law enforcement officers yelling unconfirmed reports of shots fired. The panic was worsened by TSA officials running from their posts to the exits as they are trained to do. Approximately 12,000 passengers were displaced, the review found, and many were stuck for hours without food, water or shelter and without timely information about what was happening to them.”3

  We lived the twelve hours of chaos and survived. The dead have been buried and the living endure. And now it is months later and spring is here. Chicago is finally warming up. I work a lot in Starbucks, and there is not a day that goes by when I don't think that someone could come in with a gun and start shooting. I think this in passing but it is there like a rock in my shoe, something I forget about until I suddenly feel it again.

  We recently went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and had a great time over spring break. But a little dark bat would flap out of the corner of my mind at odd times in those crowds and I would look around for that young man with a Glock, a Walther 9mm, an AR-15, or a shotgun, and I would know what many others know at that moment…that it all can end, in the blink of a kiss.

  Many thanks to Steven L. Mitchell and the great folks at Prometheus Books for taking on a very tough book on a very tough subject and pushing me to make the book even better.

  PROLOGUE

  1. Mark Follman, Gavin Aronsen, and Deanna Pan, “US Mass Shootings, 1982–2018: Data from Mother Jones’ Investigation,” Mother Jones, March 10, 2018, https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-mother-jones-full-data/ (accessed March 23, 2018).

  2. Joe Palazzolo and Alexis Flynn, “US Leads World in Mass Shootings,” Wall Street Journal, October 3, 2015.

  CHAPTER 1: REENTRY

  1. Brett Clarkson, Brooke Baitinger, et al., “Timeline: How the Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting Unfolded,” Sun Sentinel, January 14, 2017, http://projects.sun-sentinel.com/projects/fll-airport-shooting-timeline/ (accessed April 2, 2018).

  2. Ibid.

  CHAPTER 2: THE AMERICAN PAYOFF

  1. Andrea Torres, “Father Celebrating Birthday Dies in Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting,” Local 10 ABC News, January 7, 2017, https://www.local10.com/news/crime/father-celebrating-birthday-dies-in-fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting (accessed April 2, 2018).

  2. Paul Scicchitano, “All 5 Fort Lauderdale Airport Victims Had Planned Cruises,” Miami Patch, January 12, 2017, https://patch.com/florida/miami/all-5-fort-lauderdale-airport-victims-had-planned-cruises (accessed March 23, 2018).

  3. Ibid.

  4. Siobhan Morrissey and Steve Helling, “Friends and Family Mourn Shirley Timmons, Killed in the Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting,” People, January 12, 2017, http://people.com/crime/friends-and-family-mourn-shirley-timmons-killed-in-the-fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting/ (accessed April 12, 2018).

  5. Juan Ortega, “Shirley Timmons: Airport-Shooting Victim Was ‘Amazing Daughter, Wife, Mother and Grandmother,’” Sun Sentinel (Broward County, FL), January 9, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fort-lauderdale-hollywood-airport-shooting/fl-shirley-timmons-airport-shooting-20170107-story.html (accessed April 12, 2018).

  6. Johnny Diaz, “Michael Oehme: Airport-Shooting Victim Was Known For His Love of Cruises,” Sun Sentinel (Broward County, FL), January 7, 1017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fort-lauderdale-hollywood-airport-shooting/fl-michael-oehme-20170107-story.html (accessed April 12, 2018).

  7. Rebeca Piccardo, “Mary Louise Amzibel Identified as Fifth Victim of Fort Lauderdale Airport Attack,” Orlando Sentinel, January 11, 2017, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/sfl-fifth-victim-of-airport-massacre-identified-20170111-story.html (accessed April 12, 2018).

  CHAPTER 3: FORT LAUDERDALE–HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

  1. “Fort Lauderdale, FL: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL),” Bureau of Transportation Statistics, May 2011, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=FLL&Airport_Name=Fort%20Lauderdale,%20FL:%20Fort%20Lauderdale-Hollywood%20International&carrier=FACTS (accessed March 23, 2018).

  2. Ibid.

  3. Lisa J. Huriash, “A Look at History of Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport,” Sun Sentinel, March 23, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-international-airport-photo-gallery-20170323-photogallery.html (accessed April 13, 2018).

  4. Hillary Mayell, “B
ermuda Triangle: Behind the Intrigue,” National Geographic News, December 15, 2003, https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/1205_021205_bermudatriangle.html (accessed April 13, 2018).

  5. “About Us: Timeline,” Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, http://www.broward.org/Airport/About/Pages/Timeline.aspx (accessed April 13, 2018).

  6. Joseph B. Treaster, “Hurricane Drenches Florida, Leaves 7 Dead,” New York Times, August 27, 2005, https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/27/us/hurricane-drenches-florida-leaves-7-dead.html (accessed April 13, 2018).

  7. “Wilma's Wrath: Ft. Lauderdale–Hollywood Airport Still Closed,” Aero News Network, October 27, 2005, http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=5fc02238-e8b7-43b6-9156-04c7bd2ea725 (accessed April 13, 2018).

  8. “Accident Description: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, N8961E, Fort Lauderdale International Airport, FL,” Aviation Safety Network, May 18, 1972, https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19720518-1 (accessed March 23, 2018).

  9. Amy Stromberg, “Cuba Frees Skyjacker,” Sun Sentinel, June 18, 1988, http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-06-18/news/8802050382_1_air-piracy-air-florida-cuba (accessed April 13, 2018).

  10. Richard N. Aarons, “Multiple Failures Put Learjet 35A into the Atlantic,” Aviation Week Network, April 27, 2016, http://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/multiple-failures-put-learjet-35a-atlantic (accessed April 13, 2018).

  11. Eliott C. McLaughlin, “Plane Catches Fire on Runway at Fort Lauderdale Airport,” CNN, October 30, 2015, https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/29/us/fort-lauderdale-plane-catches-fire-runway/index.html (accessed March 23, 2018).

  12. Jon Ostrower and Ralph Ellis, “FedEx Cargo Plane Burns at Fort Lauderdale Airport,” CNN, October 28, 2016, https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/28/us/fedex-cargo-plane-fire/index.html (accessed April 13, 2018).

  13. Wikipedia, s.v. “Airport Security,” last edited April 1, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_security (accessed April 2, 2018).

  CHAPTER 4: WEAPONIZED HUMANS

  1. Paula McMahon, “Airport Shooting Suspect Is Being Treated for Schizophrenia, Defense Team Says,” Sun Sentinel, March 13, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fort-lauderdale-hollywood-airport-shooting/fl-reg-esteban-santiago-diagnosis-airport-shooting-20170313-story.html (accessed March 23, 2018).

  2. Charles Rabin, “Airport Shooter's Life in Alaska Was Falling Apart, Though Few Seemed to Notice,” Miami Herald, January 11, 2017, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article126025249.html (accessed April 13, 2018).

  3. Mike Clary, Megan O'Matz, Lisa Arthur, and Carl Prine, “How Accused Airport Killer Esteban Santiago Spun Out of Control—With No One to Stop Him,” Sun Sentinel, January 14, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fort-lauderdale-hollywood-airport-shooting/fl-airport-shooting-santiago-profile-20170113-story.html (accessed April 13, 2018).

  4. Megan O'Matz, Deborah Ramirez, and Stephen Hobbs, “Airport Shooter Esteban Santiago Had Florida Driver's License,” Sun Sentinel, January 19, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fort-lauderdale-hollywood-airport-shooting/fl-santiago-gun-license-pr-20170119-story.html (accessed April 13, 2018).

  5. Nathaniel Herz, Chris Klint, Suzanna Caldwell, and Jerzy Shedlock, “Esteban Santiago, the Suspect in Florida Airport Shooting, Was an Anchorage Resident,” Anchorage Daily News, January 6, 2017, https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2017/01/06/suspect-in-florida-airport-shooting-has-same-name-age-as-anchorage-man/ (accessed April 17, 2018); Carol Currie, “Alaska Authorities: He Broke No Laws Here,” Florida Today, January 7, 2017, https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/01/07/alaska-authorities-broke-laws/96299070/ (accessed April 17, 2018).

  6. Ray Sanchez, “What We Know about the Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting Suspect,” CNN, January 7, 2017, https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-suspect/index.html (accessed April 17, 2018).

  7. Jason Dearen and Rachel D'Oro, “Suspected Florida Airport Gunman's Life Unraveled Over the Past Year,” Valley News, January 12, 2017, http://www.vnews.com/Suspected-airport-gunman-s-life-unraveled-over-past-year-7442631 (accessed April 17, 2018).

  8. Brandy Zadrozny, “Ft. Lauderdale Gunman Esteban Santiago Was Being Prosecuted for Strangling His Girlfriend,” Daily Beast, January 7, 2017, https://www.thedailybeast.com/ft-lauderdale-gunman-esteban-santiago-was-being-prosecuted-for-strangling-his-girlfriend (accessed April 17, 2018).

  9. Kyle Clayton, Nicol Jenkins, and Leonard Greene, “Esteban Santiago's Brother Blames FBI for Killings as Fort Lauderdale Shooting Suspect May Face Death Penalty,” Daily News, January 7, 2017, http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/terrorism-probed-motive-fort-lauderdale-airport-shooting-article-1.2939003 (accessed March 23, 2018).

  10. Currie, “Alaska Authorities.”

  CHAPTER 5: BAGGAGE CLAIM TERMINAL 2

  1. Brett Clarkson, Brooke Baitinger, Linda Trischitta, Catie Peterson, Irfan Uraizee, and Yiran Zhu, “Timeline: How the Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting Unfolded,” Sun Sentinel, January 14, 2017, http://projects.sun-sentinel.com/projects/fll-airport-shooting-timeline/ (accessed April 18, 2018).

  2. Joey Aguirre and Lihn Ta, “Iowa Man Killed in Fort Lauderdale Shooting ‘a Good Husband, Father,’” Des Moines Register, January 7, 2017, https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/01/07/iowa-man-killed-fort-lauderdale-shooting-good-husband-father/96292046/ (accessed April 18, 2018).

  3. David Ng, “Answer: Do Most Soldiers Intentionally Shoot to Kill in Combat?…” Quora, November 19, 2015, https://www.quora.com/Do-most-soldiers-intentionally-shoot-to-kill-in-combat-Does-the-modern-soldier-differ-from-those-of-past-wars-Does-training-effectively-desensitize-killing-When-your-life-is-threatened-does-that-remove-all-inhibitions (accessed April 20, 2018).

  4. Aguirre and Ta, “Iowa Man Killed.”

  5. Clarkson et al., “Timeline.”

  6. Ibid.

  CHAPTER 7: THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS: A LIBERAL IDEA

  1. James Thomas Flexner, The Face of Liberty: Founders of the United States (New York: Random House, 1977), p. 128.

  2. Ibid.

  3. English Bill of Rights 1689: An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown, Avalon Project, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/england.asp (accessed May 17, 2018).

  4. Richard Burn, The Justice of the Peace, and Parish Officer, vol. 5 (London: A. Strahan, 1810), p. 757.

  5. Charles A. Weisman, “Origin of the Right to Bear Arms in America,” Chalcedon, February 28, 2000, https://chalcedon.edu/magazine/origin-of-the-right-to-bear-arms-in-america (accessed May 17, 2018).

  6. An Act Concerning Crossbows and Handguns, 1541, 33 Hen. 8, c. 6.

  7. US Const. amend. II (Bill of Rights), https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript (accessed May 17, 2018).

  8. David Bodenhamer and James Ely Jr., The Bill of Rights in Modern America (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2008), p. 91.

  9. Jeff Garzik, The Founding Papers, vol. 2, The Federalist Papers (Morrisville, NC: Lulu, 2004), p. 157.

  10. Robert J. Cottrol, ed., Gun Control and the Constitution: Sources and Explorations on the Second Amendment (New York: Garland, 1994), p. xvi.

  11. Gerard N. Magliocca, The Heart of the Constitution: How the Bill of Rights Became the Bill of Rights (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press), p. 13.

  12. A. John Simmons, The Lockean Theory of Rights (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1994), p. 225.

  CHAPTER 8: GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

  1. Aviation Security Improvement Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-604, 104 Stat. 3066.

  2. Thomas H. Kean et al., 9/11 Commission Report (Washington, DC: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, July 22, 2004), p. 270, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/sept11/911Report.pdf (accessed April 20, 2018).

  3. R. William Johnstone, 9/11 and the Future of Transportation Security (Westport, CT: Praeger Security International, 2006), p. 37.

  4. Kean et al., 9/11 Commi
ssion Report, p. 2.

  5. Johnstone, 9/11 and the Future of Transportation Security, p. 50.

  6. Clark Kent Ervin, Major Management Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, December 2004, OIG-05-06, https://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/OIG_05-06_Dec04.pdf (accessed April 20, 2018).

  CHAPTER 9: ONE IN THREE HUNDRED

  1. Dave Mosher and Skye Gould, “The Odds that a Gun Will Kill the Average American May Surprise You,” Business Insider, March 25, 2018, http://www.businessinsider.com/us-gun-death-murder-risk-statistics-2018-3 (accessed Msy 25, 2018).

  2. Dave Mosher and Skye Gould, “How Likely Is Gun Violence to Kill the Average American? The Odds May Surprise You,” Business Insider, February 15, 2018, http://www.businessinsider.com/mass-shooting-gun-statistics-2018-2 (accessed March 23, 2018).

  CHAPTER 10: THE FIRST MASS MURDER

  1. Patrick Sauer, “The Story of the First Mass Murder in US History,” Smithsonian, October 14, 2015, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-first-mass-murder-us-history-180956927/ (accessed March 23, 2018).

  2. Ibid.

  3. Charles Rabin, “Airport Shooter's Life in Alaska Was Falling Apart, Though Few Seemed to Notice,” Miami Herald, January 11, 2017, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article126025249.html (accessed April 23, 2018).

  4. Sauer, “Story of the First Mass Murder.”

  5. Ibid.

  6. Ibid.

  7. Ibid.

  8. Mark Follman, Gavin Aronsen, and Deanna Pan, “A Guide to Mass Shootings in America,” Mother Jones, March 10, 2018, https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/07/mass-shootings-map/ (accessed April 23, 2018).