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N.J. aunt of Ft. Lauderdale airport shooting suspect: 'He lost his mind' in Iraq
NJ.com ^ | January 6, 2017 | By Kelly Heyboer and Fausto Giovanny Pinto

Posted on 01/06/2017 3:38:43 PM PST by COUNTrecount

UNION CITY -- The suspect in the Fort Lauderdale shooting was a U.S. military veteran who "lost his mind" after a tour of duty in Iraq, his aunt said Friday. Maria Ruiz Rivera, of Union City, said she was told by relatives in Florida that the suspected shooter who killed at least five people at the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday was her nephew, Esteban Santiago-Ruiz. Agents who identified themselves as being from the FBI arrived at the family's Union City apartment Friday afternoon to question the aunt and uncle about their nephew, the family said.

Ruiz Rivera said relatives in Florida were also contacted by law enforcement officials Friday afternoon.

Suspect in Ft. Lauderdale shooting from N.J., reports say The suspected gunman opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday, killing at least five people before he was taken into custody, authorities say. Santiago-Ruiz, who was born in New Jersey, was living in Alaska and has a newborn baby boy, his aunt told NJ Advance Media. He appeared to be doing well and was working a security job in recent months, she said. But he was hospitalized for mental health issues after returning from a year-long tour in Iraq about five years ago, his aunt said. "He lost his mind," Ruiz Rivera said in Spanish.

(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


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To: COUNTrecount

Lost his mind in Iraq? More likely that he was teetering on the edge when he arrived. The men of prior generations put guys like him to shame, having gone through much worse in battle and returned home sane.


21 posted on 01/06/2017 4:46:35 PM PST by Socon-Econ
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To: COUNTrecount

Just another Vet that Obama’s VA system let fall through the cracks.


22 posted on 01/06/2017 5:02:44 PM PST by kaintucky
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To: Travis McGee

I remember that story.

I wonder who was his link?


23 posted on 01/06/2017 5:36:53 PM PST by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. Franklin)
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To: COUNTrecount

He lost his mind when he embraced Islam.


24 posted on 01/06/2017 5:41:50 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents)
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To: COUNTrecount

“He lost his mind,” Ruiz Rivera said in Spanish
******************************

How long has the aunt been living here?
Why hasn’t she learned English?


25 posted on 01/06/2017 5:46:56 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents)
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To: COUNTrecount

Working in a security job?! For whom??


26 posted on 01/06/2017 5:49:05 PM PST by mewzilla (I'll vote for the first guy who promises to mail in his SOTU addresses.)
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To: little jeremiah

An attempt to change it. He’s nuts because he converted to Islam or at the very least, identifies with Islamic goals and wanted to help advance them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sounds a lot like resident Odumass.


27 posted on 01/06/2017 6:17:56 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Bill and Hillary Clinton are the penicillin-resistant syphilis of our political system.)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

Trump needs to send the Spanish speaking aunt packing.


28 posted on 01/06/2017 7:22:07 PM PST by T-Bone Texan
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To: T-Bone Texan

If she is Puerto Rican, she is a citizen.

The fact that Puerto Ricans refuse to learn English is enough reason not to entertain the idea of them becoming the 51st state.

Unfortunately that is exactly why the Uniparty is going to force us to accept them as the 51st state.


29 posted on 01/06/2017 7:43:36 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents)
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To: Responsibility2nd
FWIW, I think this changes the ongoing narrative that he was a muzzie sympathizer.

He’s an Iraqi war vet with PTSD.

That won't sit well with those that insist he's a terrorist - I find myself wanting such acts to be terror/Islam driven to facilitate resolve in an all out war on it so I can sympathize with the "it's gotta be terrorism" folks.

Jury is still out but he was obviously a sick puppy and had mental problems before he went to Iraq - that may very well have put him over the deep end.

30 posted on 01/07/2017 3:41:56 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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