What to Know
At least 5 were dead and 8 wounded after a shooting at Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida on Friday
Law enforcement sources identified the shooter as 26-year-old Esteban Santiago
He was born in New Jersey, the sources said, and had military ID on him when he was arrested
Family members of the 26-year-old New Jersey-born man identified by law enforcement sources as the Fort Lauderdale Airport shooter had served for years in the National Guard and was recently hospitalized in Alaska after "something got to him."
Federal sources told NBC News the shootings did not appear to be an act of terrorism, and that the gunman, identified as Esteban Santiago, appears to have acted alone. Both federal and family sources said Santiago had some mental health issues.
Santiago, born in March 1990, had military ID on him when he was arrested, multiple senior law enforcement sources told NBC.
Santiago took Delta flight no. 1088 from Anchorage to Minneapolis-St. Paul Thursday night, source said. He landed Friday morning, and then took Delta flight no. 2182 from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Fort Lauderdale.
Esteban Santiago's Aunt in New Jersey Speaks
![[NY] Esteban Santiago's Aunt in New Jersey Speaks](http://media.nbcnewyork.com/images/620*349/WNBC_000000014542667_1200x675_849410627621.jpg)
After arriving at Fort Lauderdale, he picked up his gun at baggage claim in the airport's Terminal 2 and then began firing, sources said.
He was taken into custody unharmed.
Santiago's brother, Bryan Santiago, spoke with NBC News over the phone from Puerto Rico Friday afternoon.
He said Esteban was born in New Jersey but moved to Penuela, Puerto Rico, where Bryan and their mother still live. Esteban served in the National Guard in Puerto Rico for six years, and went to Iraq for about a year, Bryan said.
"He was pro-America," Bryan said.
Santiago's aunt, Maria Luisa Ruiz, spoke to NBC 4 sister station Telemundo-47 from her Union City home in New Jersey Friday evening. She said that while Esteban was in Iraq, his father died. When he returned to Puerto Rico, he studied but struggled to find a job. He then moved to Alaska for work opportunities.
"I know that right now he was working in security [in Alaska]," she said in Spanish. "But about two months ago, he was in the hospital."
"Something got to him," she said. "It looks like he lost his mind. He would say that he would see things. I don't know. So he went to the hospital. That's what I know. That's what the mother told me, who lives in Puerto Rico."
Raw Footage: People Hide Behind a Car at Florida Airport
![[NY] Raw Footage: People Hide Behind a Car at Fort Lauderdale Airport](http://media.nbcnewyork.com/images/620*349/Lauderdale_2_15098091_1200x675_849283139734.jpg)
The aunt -- the sister of Esteban's mother -- said Esteban was in the hospital for about two weeks.
"Before that, he met a girl. He has a recently born baby with her," she said, adding the baby was born in September, and that's when she last heard from him.
Terrified Travelers Run Across Tarmac After Gunfire Erupts
![[NY] Raw Footage: Passengers Run Across Tarmac During Airport Shooting](http://media.nbcnewyork.com/images/620*349/running_on_tarmac_for_web_15098116_1200x675_849284675729.jpg)
"I talked to him after the baby was born. Everything was fine. He was happy with his baby," she said. "He sent me a photo and then I didn't hear anything more."
Ruiz last saw her nephew in person years ago, when he visited New Jersey for a week upon returning from Iraq.
"My entire family is in shock," she said, calling him " a good kid."
During Telemundo-47's interview with Santiago's aunt, federal officials showed up at the home and ordered everyone out of the Union City home.
Esteban was "fighting with a lot of people" during his time in Alaska, Bryan Santiago told NBC News, saying he was having relationship issues and arguing with his girlfriend and others. The girlfriend told Bryan that his brother was "receiving psychological counseling in Anchorage."
Esteban did have a handgun, his brother said.
Federal law enforcement officials told NBC News that Esteban Santiago was undergoing treatment for mental health problems, complaining that he was hearing voices.
They say a few months ago, he walked into the FBI's office in Anchorage, claiming that the CIA was forcing him to join ISIS. Officials say local police were called, and he went voluntarily to a mental health facility for treatment.
Bryan said he could not imagine his brother committing the crime, and speculated that perhaps he had a "flashback" from his military experience, although he said there was no PTSD diagnosis or other post-Iraq issues.
Bryan said he had not heard form Esteban for several weeks, which is unusual, and that the family was worried about him.
"He is a regular person, spiritual, a good person," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Alaska National Guard confirmed to NBC News that Esteban Santiago joined the Puerto Rico National Guard on Dec. 14, 2007, and was deployed to Iraq from April 23, 2010 to Feb. 19, 2011.
He was then in the Army Reserves before joining the Alaska Army National Guard on Nov. 21, 2014. He received a general discharge from the Alaska Army National Guard on Aug. 16, 2016, for unsatisfactory performance, the spokeswoman said.
Esteban Santiago was a combat engineer and his rank was private first class when he was discharged.
Alaskan court records show an Esteban Santiago with the same date of birth was charged with two misdemeanors last year; one count was dismissed and Santiago was due back in court on the second this coming March.
The Broward Sheriff's Office said they received a call about the shooting around 12:55 p.m. Live video more than an hour after the attack showed people running across the tarmac between terminals while others took cover behind car.
President-elect Donald Trump tweeted, "Monitoring the terrible situation in Florida. Just spoke to Governor Scott. Thoughts and prayers for all. Stay safe!" Florida Gov. Rick Scott was traveling to Fort Lauderdale to be briefed by law enforcement, his office said.