MIAMI, September 23 — The first thing travelers heard was the crack of gunfire, four shots cutting through the afternoon hum of one of the busiest airports in the United States. Just after 4:00 PM on Wednesday, September 23, a 31-year-old homeless man loaded a magazine into a firearm at a short-term parking garage at Miami International Airport and fired three rounds toward an occupied terminal, striking a metal trash can, according to reports from CBS Miami and Local 10 News.
A fourth round went into the windshield of an unoccupied vehicle. No one was hurt.
Authorities moved quickly to clarify that the situation was an isolated incident, not an active shooter threat. The suspect, identified as Francisco Ivan Mendiola, was arrested and described by police as a homeless individual who appeared intoxicated and acted aggressively during his arrest. He faces multiple charges, including unlawfully discharging a firearm in public and shooting a deadly missile.
A Terminal on Lockdown
Cell phone footage showed deputies, some in tactical gear, responding to the scene. The heavy presence of Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies prompted the temporary closure of departure level doors 12 to 17 and departure roadways. The shooting took place near the terminal’s departure level, a high-traffic area.
Airport operations, lanes, and departure levels fully reopened roughly two hours after the initial panic, returning to normal later that Wednesday evening. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the airport, though the Miami-Dade Police Department also has jurisdiction.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Transportation Security Administration were notified, though it was not immediately clear if they were actively involved in the investigation.
An Investigation Without a Motive
The suspect’s motive remains under investigation. Authorities have not released further details about his background or how he obtained the firearm. The incident occurred at an airport that served more than 52 million passengers in 2023, according to airport data.
It follows a series of high-profile security incidents at US airports in recent years, including a 2017 shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. What to watch next: whether investigators determine how Mendiola obtained the weapon and whether the case moves toward federal charges alongside the state counts he already faces.
