MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) – An intoxicated man has been detained for questioning after Miami-Dade Sheriff\u2019s Office deputies say he opened fire at a trash can and then turned the gun at an unoccupied car outside Miami International Airport. <\/p>\n
The shooting happened around 4 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies and other law enforcement officials swarmed the airport terminals and initially shut down departure lanes at the airport\u2019s entrance.<\/p>\n
According to MDSO, the incident happened outside the airport, near where the subject, later identified as 31-year-old Francisco\u00a0Ivan Mendiola, was taken into custody.<\/p>\n
Investigators said he was sitting on a bench on the second floor of the short term parking garage when a deputy saw him as he loaded a gun and opened fire.<\/p>\n
According to the arrest report, Mendiola was drunk and fired three rounds toward the airport terminal, then fired a fourth round toward the airport terminal, which hit an unoccupied Dodge Challenger.<\/p>\n
The shooting caused panic among passengers entering and leaving the airport. Many told 7News they were not allowed outdoors or to deplane while police were investigating. <\/p>\n
One witness recalled what he saw and what police told him as the situation unfolded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI seen about like 25 cops, SWAT, like a lot of cops,\u201d he said. \u201c\u2018Don\u2019t go outside, nobody\u2019s allowed to go out, there\u2019s an active shooting.\u2019 And I\u2019m like, \u2018An active shooting?\u2019 Kind of nerve racking you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
Others described what happened at the scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw a lot of people are running, especially the police,\u201d said passenger Tariq Elmasaoudi. \u201cThe police come in with the guns, it looks like something was very serious yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLots of cops, looks like they had the roadway shut down over there,\u201d said passenger Sean Johnson.<\/p>\n
As the investigation unfolded, 7News cameras captured the affected area blocked off by crime scene tape, with several MDSO deputies and airport officials at the scene.<\/p>\n
Airport employees were seen leaving their buses and walking to the terminal to get to work.<\/p>\n
Hours later, deputies gave an all-clear and re-opened the departure and outer roadway lanes to regular traffic. <\/p>\n
Video obtained by 7News shows Mendiola being subdued by MDSO deputies near a police vehicle and being placed in handcuffs and put into a patrol car.<\/p>\n
He was then taken to a station near the airport for questioning, according to MDSO. Later, however, deputies said a formal interview could not be conducted due to the suspect\u2019s aggressive behavior and intoxicated condition. <\/p>\n
According to deputies, there is no ongoing threat to the public at the time.<\/p>\n
They also said that all passengers and employees are safe and no injuries were reported.<\/p>\n
As for Mendiola, he faces several charges, including at least one felony.<\/p>\n
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