1883
Views

Norfolk Shipyard Employee Killed in Airport Shooting

Published Jan 9, 2017 9:08 PM by The Maritime Executive

One of the five victims of Friday's mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport was a 20-year employee of Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the shipbuilder said in a statement on Monday. 

Terry Andres, a resident of Norfolk, was on his way to join a two-week cruise when a lone gunman opened fire in the airport. His wife Ann was accompanying him at the time of the shooting and was not harmed. Andres would have been 63 later this month; he is survived by his two children and three grandchildren. 

"Norfolk Naval Shipyard lost a member of our family in the tragic shooting in Fort Lauderdale. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Terry Andres’ family and friends during this difficult time," the yard said in a statement. "Andres, who served the shipyard and the U.S. Navy for 20 years, most recently worked as a civilian Radiological Control Technician. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”

The gunman, Iraq veteran Esteban Santiago, has been charged with "violence at an international airport resulting in death." Federal prosecutors with the U.S. attorney's office in Miami are expected to seek the death penalty, and they have not yet ruled out terrorism as a factor in the case. 

Santiago had a history of mental health difficulties and run-ins with the police. He was discharged from the National Guard in 2016 for poor performance, and in November he entered an FBI office to complain that the government was controlling his mind. He had a weapon in his car at the time, which agents seized and later returned; despite this incident he was not placed on the federal no-fly list.