'Today is solidly terrifying': Australian actor and Spartacus star Liam McIntyre narrowly avoids Florida airport shooting that saw five executed because he left the terminal to meet his wife Erin
- Australian actor Liam McIntyre tweeted live from the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting on Friday
- He was supposed to be at the baggage claim area in Terminal 2 where gunman Esteban Santiago opened fire at around 1pm
- However he decided to bid farewell to his wife Erin in a different location, a decision which possibly saved his life
- 'Terrified' star confirmed via Twitter he was safe and had been 'evacuated'
Australian actor Liam McIntyre narrowly avoided being caught up in the airport shooting in Florida that left five dead and at least eight injured.
The terrified star said he was dangerously close to the scene but missed the gunman because he was bidding farewell to wife Erin.
Liam confirmed he was supposed to be at the baggage claim area in Terminal 2 when Esteban Santiago opened fire at about 1pm.
'Today is solidly terrifying': Australian actor Liam McIntyre (L) revealed on Twitter he was close to where gunman Esteban Santiago opened fire at Fort Lauderdale airport on Friday afternoon but avoided the scene as he had just left Terminal 2 to bid farewell to his wife Erin (R)
Lucky escape: 'Dear God. Was in a different terminal to see @Erin_McIntyre8 on her flight. Then there was a shooting at the terminal I was meant to be at,' Liam wrote on Twitter
'Dear God. Was in a different terminal to see @Erin_McIntyre8 on her flight. Then there was a shooting at the terminal I was meant to be at,' Liam tweeted.
'Praying for all the people caught in the ft. Lauderdale shooting a terminal over. Dear God.
'Terminal one alarms at fort lauderdale airport. Police guns drawn. Still developing here. Be safe.
First-hand account: The Spartacus actor kept his Twitter followers up-to-date with details
Safe: 'Out. Safe. Wow. Thoughts and prayers to those who weren't so lucky,' Liam concluded
Unharmed: Thankfully, Liam and wife Erin were left unharmed after the tragic mass shooting
'Okay, been evacuated to a separate area. Today is solidly terrifying. Hopefully it's under control now. Stay safe.
'Just saw a family reunited with their 5 year old. That made everyone feel a bit better! Thank goodness for some good news!
'Out. Safe. Wow. Thoughts and prayers to those who weren't so lucky,' Liam concluded.
Identified: Esteban Santiago, 26, an Iraq war veteran, has been identified as the gunman who opened fire at about 1pm at the baggage claim area at Terminal 2 at Fort Lauderdale airport
The scene: Dressed in a Star Wars T-shirt, Esteban claimed his bag, went to the bathroom to load his handgun and then started shooting people
Esteban Santiago flew into the airport from Anchorage, Alaska (with a layover in Minneapolis, St. Paul) on Delta flight 2182 - a firearm was his only piece of checked luggage.
The 26-year-old, who was dressed in a Star Wars T-shirt, claimed his bag, went to the bathroom to load his handgun and then started shooting people dead.
Among the first of the victims to be named is Terry Andres - a 62-year-old grandfather who was at the airport with his wife to go on a vacation.
Tragic: Among the first of the victims to be named is Terry Andres - a 62-year-old grandfather who was at the airport with his wife to go on a vacation
Santiago had a history of mental problems, according to NBC News.
Authorities said Santiago walked into an FBI office in Anchorage in November last year claiming the government was trying to control his mind and he was being forced to watch videos for ISIS, CBS reports. After that incident, Santiago started getting treatment for his mental health issues.
He was also contacted by the FBI after an employer back in Alaska raised concerns about certain things he had said, according to ABC News.
Details: Photos have emerged of the scene in which the tragic shooting took place
About 90 minutes after the shooting, chaos broke out again when police officers were seen rushing into the parking garage with their guns drawn while bystanders sought shelter behind vehicles.
But the Broward County Sheriff said the only shooting that happened was in Terminal 2 and that he currently believes only one gunman was involved.
A witness told NBC Miami that the shooter was silent and didn't appear to be targeting anyone in particular - 'popping off bullets at random'.
Investigation: Police question people who are evacuating from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport near the tarmac
Aftermath: Passengers were seen waiting outside after the shooting
John Schlicher, who told MSNBC he saw the attack, described the shooter as a 'slender man' who was 'directly firing at us' while passengers waited for their bags to come off the carousel.
In another interview with Fox News, Schlicher said that the shooter was aiming at people's heads.
'All the people seemed to be shot in the head,' Schlicher said. 'He was shooting people who were down on the ground too.'
The shooter reloaded once for a second burst of shooting, Schlicher said, but he could not say how many bullets were fired.
Emotional: Passengers are seen hugging their loved ones as they emerged safe
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