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A New York TV network posted a photograph of Santiago holding a baby after he allegedly went on the rampage at a Florida Airport, killing at least five people and injuring eight more. US Senator Bill Nelson identified the army man on American TV and said that military identification, believed to be his, had been found on him following his arrest by armed officers. Santiago, who is 26 and comes from the state of New Jersey, apparently walked into Fort Lauderdale airport’s Terminal 2 baggage reclaim area wearing a Star Wars shirt and opened fire with a handgun.

NBC New York/CBS The suspected shooter behind the Ford Lauderdale massacre has been named by a US Senator

US network NBC New York tonight released a photograph of Santiago holding a baby, which it said had been verified by his family. The network added that the suspected shooter flew from Anchorage in Alaska to Minneapolis St. Paul airport, and then to Fort Lauderdale. The soldier, who lived in the northern state of Alaska from 2014 until last year, randomly targeted people when he opened fire inside the airport building, according to witnesses. One witness said that he appeared to be "aiming for the head". ABC News quoted an Army National Guard spokesman who said that Santiago was honourably discharged from the military four months ago, and was last posted at Fort Greely in Alaska.

According to the Daily Beast, the ex trooper had a criminal record in the Arctic state for minor traffic infractions including operating a vehicle without insurance and a broken tail-light. The website also reported that records show his his landlord evicted him for non-payment of rent in February 2015, and that he had recently agreed to an unspecified punishment via a deferred prosecution agreement after being charged with minor misdemeanour crimes of low-grade assault and damage to property. The specifics of the case were not immediately clear. Passengers caught up in the horror said he was shot by authorities as he stopped to reload his weapon ahead of unleashing another hailstorm of bullets. The suspected shooter was then surrounded by armed police who forced him to the ground, where he lay spread-eagled as he was arrested.

BREAKING: Family confirms this is Esteban Santiago, the alleged Fort Lauderdale Airport shooter https://t.co/BfC8GDwEsX pic.twitter.com/qnd52erJTY — NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) January 6, 2017

REUTERS At least five people were killed in the shooting today

NBC Emergency services work to rescue the injured

A law enforcement source told Fox News that the suspect involved in the shooting was a 26-year-old born in New Jersey, who had a concealed carry permit for a handgun and a Florida driver’s licence. There had been reports that Santiago entered the US on an Air Canada flight with a gun checked into his baggage, but the airline tonight tweeted: "We confirm we have no record of a passenger by the name Esteban Santiago, or checked guns, on any of our flights to Fort Lauderdale." Eyewitness Mark Lea, a financial adviser from Minneapolis, described the mayhem as he saw a man enter the baggage reclaim area and open fire. The 53-year-old said: “I was dodging bullets and trying to help people get out of the way. “At first we thought it was firecrackers. Everyone started screaming and running. The shooter made his way down through baggage claim. “He had what looked like a 9mm and emptied his entire clip. People were trying to run.”

Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida Fri, January 6, 2017 Scenes from the Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida Play slideshow kns News 1 of 13 Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida

Mr Lea said armed police officers were on the scene within a minute of the first shots being fired. He added: “It was absolutely surreal. People were scared and frantically running to avoid being shot. People were tripping over each other. They were trying to make a fast exit out of the door.” Recounting what information he has been given so far, Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca wrote on Facebook: “The shooter was a passenger on a Canadian flight with a checked gun. “He claimed his bag and took the gun from baggage and went into the bathroom to load it. Came out shooting people in baggage claim. “There were 13 total shot, 5 dead, 8 transported to hospital.”