The authorities in Miami-Dade revealed information about the individual who on Wednesday afternoon made four shots in the parking area of Miami International Airport.
The shooter was a homeless man identified as Francisco Iván Mendiola, 31 years old, who was arrested shortly after the incident.
Joseph Peguero Rivera, spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police, clarified the details of the incident: "We can confirm that the individual did fire the firearm; however, no one was hit, and the reason for the gunfire is unknown. He shot at the ground and at a trash can."
The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. when multiple calls to 911 alerted authorities about gunfire near Gate 17 of the airport, triggering a massive police operation that was initially treated as a possible active shooter situation.
The agents located Mendiola between the Flamingo parking lot and the short-term parking area, where he was handcuffed and taken into custody.
Upon inspecting his backpack, they found the weapon along with two magazines capable of holding 16 rounds each, both containing 12 cartridges, as well as four bullet casings in the area where he was detained.
The researchers noted that he was intoxicated, which prevented them from conducting a formal interview with him.
According to the arrest report, Mendiola was seen by an officer on the second floor of the Flamingo parking garage, near Terminal E, carrying a weapon before firing towards the terminals.
Three of the four projectiles hit a metal trash bin, while the fourth struck the windshield of an unoccupied Dodge Challenger vehicle.
No injuries were reported among passengers or airport employees.
Mendiola faces charges for firing a projectile or deadly weapon, illegal discharge of a firearm in a public place, and property damage valued between $200 and $1,000.
Closure of several airport departures and testimonies from witnesses
The operation forced the temporary closure of the departure level between gates 12 and 17, redirecting all vehicle traffic to the arrivals level, which created chaos for those entering and exiting the airport. The departure level did not reopen until shortly before 6:00 PM.
Several witnesses described to Telemundo 51 scenes of confusion and fear. "The sirens, the police, all of that," recalled David, one of the travelers present in the area, who managed to record the moment when the suspect was apprehended.
"When you're on the plane, it does feel scary because you don't know what's happening," said traveler Laura González, who also noted having seen helicopters flying over the area upon arrival.
Another user, José Vivas, described the disconnect between what was happening inside and outside: "They didn't tell us anything. Inside, everything feels normal as if nothing had happened. When you go outside, you find this situation, and you wonder what's going on."
Security at Miami Airport
This episode adds to a series of security incidents reported at MIA during 2026: in January, the South Terminal was evacuated due to a suspicious suitcase, and at the beginning of September, two cases of false threats —one involving a Cuban who joked about having a grenade— triggered police operations at the facilities.
The case of Mendiola represents the most serious incident in terms of actual gunfire at the airport during this period, raising questions about the access of vulnerable individuals to the facilities and the perimeter security protocols of MIA.
Filed under: