![The Ft. Lauderdale airport is a major gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America [Reuters]](/images/2017/jan8/gunman.jpg "The Ft. Lauderdale airport is a major gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America [Reuters]")
Florida airport gunman faces 'possible death penalty'
US authorities have charged a US army veteran accused in a deadly shooting rampage at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport, with offences that could carry the death penalty, while continuing to probe whether "terrorism" was a potential motive.
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Federal prosecutors charged Esteban Santiago on Saturday with firearms offenses and carrying out an act of violence at an airport, US Attorney Wifredo Ferrer said in a statement.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life in prison.
Santiago, 26, was accused of killing five, wounding six and sending thousands scrambling for safety on Friday before authorities shut down the airport in Florida, a major gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America.
The suspect was scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Monday.
Murder charges could be forthcoming from state prosecutors, but no decision has been made yet, according to the Sun Sentinel newspaper.
Santiago had travelled from Alas