FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - As two of the people who were shot during Friday’s Fort Lauderdale airport shooting continue to fight for their lives, the families of the five victims who did not survive mourned their loves ones across the nation.
The five people who were injured when a gunman pulled out a semi-automatic gun opened fire in a baggage claim area at Terminal 2 of the airport remain at Broward Health Medical Center, Monday. Two of them are listed in critical condition, and the other three are listed in good condition.
“I had humans, individuals in front of me, patients that I treat like family members when they come through these doors, and so I was just trying to do my best for those patients,” said Dr. Christopher Roberts, a neurosurgeon at BHMC.
“I came into triage, any type of injury involved in my specialty of neurosurgery, which is brain or spine injury,” said Roberts.
According to witnesses, the lone gunman, identified as 26-year-old Esteban Santiago, aimed at people’s heads.
Officials said the suspect killed five travelers and wounded six others in the attack, sending 54 people in total to the hospital. Most of these patients suffered injuries while fleeing the airport.
“I’ve hugged some survivors and had some family members hug me, and that was special,” said Roberts.
Most of the victims were tourists hoping to get away from the cold winter weather. Among the deceased was Michael Oehme. The 57-year-old Iowa resident was shot dead at the airport.
His wife Kari is recovering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
A family member said the couple was excited to be traveling from their home in Iowa to the Caribbean for a cruise vacation. “It’s just a shock. It doesn’t seem real,” she said.
Eighty-four-year-old Olga Woltering was also fatally gunned down. The native Englishwoman, who lived in an Atlanta suburb, came to South Florida to take a cruise with her husband Ralph to celebrate his 90th birthday.
She was shot and killed. He was not injured.
Woltering’s church community came together on Saturday to remember the loving great-grandmother.
The Rev. Fernando Molina-Restrepo said she was a kind matriarch. “Olga was a very, very loving, caring and very friendly person,” he said.
Devastated family members gave 7News a photo of Shirley and Steve Timmons, both 70 years old.
Shirley was killed and her husband is in critical condition after he was shot in the face. According to published reports, he is in a coma.
According to reports, the couple were meeting their children and grandchildren for a dream cruise. Family members are at the hospital hoping Steve pulls through.
Relatives said Shirley and Steve were high school sweethearts, and in a few weeks, they would have celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. Besides her husband, Shirley is survived by three daughters and eight grandchildren.
Family members of Virginia Beach resident Terry Andres said he was also shot and killed. The 62-year-old, who worked at a naval shipyard and was a volunteer firefighter, was in South Florida to take a cruise with his wife.
Andres’ uncle, Richard Andres, said he was at the airport with his wife of 40 years. She was not hurt.
“I can’t imagine her being there through all this, and the kids – I can’t imagine what’s going to happen,” said Richard.
The family of the fifth person who was killed has not publicly shared information about their loved one.
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