Woman recalls getting caught up in Miami Airport shooting: ‘It’s just in my first active shooting’
Veronica (@thechristianitgirl) told TikTok that on Thursday, 4:00 p.m. on September 24, an active shooting occurred at the Miami Airport. She recalled her experience of the incident on social media.
“It’s just in my first active shooting. I’m trying to remain calm because I witnessed the whole thing,” Veronica said. As she was exiting her plane and going down to the first level, she heard a loud ‘boom’ sound. She continued, “I don’t think of it because I freaking live in America, but then I see this guy dive behind his car.”
She turned to the people going downstairs, and Veronica told them, “There’s an active shooter on the premises.” She alleged that the people didn’t believe her, which she didn’t fault them for. However, she didn’t stop informing people about the gunman, and people started turning back.
“And then I turned back to where I saw the guy first dive behind the car, and it’s a whole family behind the car,” Veronica claimed. Although she was frantic in her TikTok video, she later posted an update that she was out of harm’s way.
“When it was safe for me to finally call an Uber, I was exiting the airport, and I actually got to talk to the family,” Veronica explained. She spoke to the family, who ducked behind the car, and got their statement. However, Veronica didn’t elaborate further.
Remaining calm during an emergency
Veronica thanked the officers for their quick response to the scene. “I never thought ‘active shooter’ would come out of my mouth. I think we always, as Americans, think about that situation in scenario, like, what would you do?” Veronica commented. Now that she has lived through it, Veronica’s response is no longer theoretical.
Although she came out of the situation unscathed, she was still mortified to have gone through it. She also proceeded to thank her dad, who she said is a first responder, for teaching her to remain calm during emergency situations. First responders deal with life-and-death situations on a daily basis, and one former EMS paramedic shared her experience rushing a frozen, purpling patient to the hospital. While these scenarios may not always have the ideal ending, having a clear mind to make level-headed decisions is crucial in an emergency responder’s line of work.
“What a wild way to start my birthday weekend,” Veronica added. She disclosed that her birthday is this coming Saturday. Although she broke out in hives due to stress, she was grateful to be safe. Staying level-headed and proactive during an emergency is crucial, as one nurse shared how she was allegedly assaulted in the streets of Portland, only for her to collect evidence against her attacker when the police wouldn’t.
What happened to the Miami Airport shooter?
According to NBC Miami, Francisco Ivan Mendiola, the 31-year-old responsible for the shooting at Miami Airport, has been arrested. The man allegedly loaded a firearm and opened fire from the parking garage toward the airport terminal. He struck a trash can and fired a fourth round that hit a vehicle. Nobody at the airport was shot or injured, and Mendiola was seen cuffed and taken into custody by the appropriate authorities.
The detectives, as reported by NBC Miami, claimed that they couldn’t interview Mendiola because he was intoxicated and aggressive.
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