New Yorkers may have dodged a catastrophe when the shooter in the Fort Lauderdale Airport massacre decided against coming to the Big Apple for New Year’s Eve, a federal law enforcement source told The Post on Tuesday.
“We’re lucky he cancelled his reservation. We could have had a bloodbath on our hands here,” the source said, adding that Esteban Santiago apparently changed his mind due to the high-level of security in New York City during the holidays.
Santiago, 26, fatally shot five people and wounded six others in the baggage claim area of the Florida airport on Friday.
The Iraq war veteran had made a reservation to fly to New York City on New Year’s Eve, but later canceled it and booked a $278 one-way ticket to Fort Lauderdale.
When he arrived on the Delta flight, Santiago retrieved his single piece of luggage from the carousel, strolled into a bathroom, changed into a “Star Wars” T-shirt and removed a 9MM semiautomatic from his checked bag, officials said.
The Alaskan security guard then walked back out to the baggage area and started randomly shooting people.
TMZ obtained surveillance video showing Santiago firing at his victims while terrified people ducked for cover.
Santiago was ordered held without bail at his initial appearance in federal court on Monday. His next court date is slated for Jan. 23.