Broward County (Fla) police and possibly the FBI are investigating who leaked video footage of Fort Lauderdale airport gunman Esteban Santiago firing at passengers. The video footage was published over the weekend by a gossip tabloid.
The video shows Santiago pulling a handgun from his waistband and firing at someone off camera as he walked through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s baggage claim area on Friday.
The shooting left 5 people dead and 6 more wounded. Esteban, 26, was captured alive and is being held without bail.
Broward Mayor Barbara Sharief told the Sun Sentinel authorities are investigating who had access to a secure area where the surveillance video could be taped on a cell phone without authorization.
The “footage was being played in a secure room for only people with certain security clearance,” Sharief said. She added that she is concerned the video was leaked to the tabloid for money.
Sharief said it’s a crime to sell airport security video without authorization. She expects the investigation to be wrapped up shortly.
Several high profile leaks to the same gossip tabloid in the past have resulted in loss of employment.
A female LAPD cop lost her job for selling evidence photos of Rihanna’s facial injuries following the singer’s altercation with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown.
And a NY hotel employee was terminated after he allegedly sold video footage of Solange Knowles putting her hands on brother-in-law Jay Z in an elevator, wile her sister Beyonce Knowles-Carter looked on approvingly.
