MIAMI (AP) — The Justice Department has decided not to seek the death penalty against an Alaska man accused of killing five people and wounding six in a Florida airport shooting.
Officials said 28-year-old Esteban Santiago of Anchorage, Alaska, will agree to a life sentence.
RECOMMENDED: Jail records reveal more about Esteban Santiago, suspected Ft. Lauderdale airport shooter
The announcement was made in Miami on Tuesday.
Santiago pleaded not guilty to a 22-count indictment in the January 2017 shooting in a baggage claim area at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Authorities say he got a handgun from checked luggage, loaded it in a bathroom and came out firing.
Since his arrest, Santiago has been treated at a Miami jail for schizophrenia. He complained of mental problems before the shooting but was not barred from possessing a gun.
RECOMMENDED: I-Team: Months after Fort Lauderdale airport shooting report reveals major problems with response
