On January 6, 2017, there was another shooting in America at the Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida. There were five killed and six injured, but one survivor was special to Auburn University.
Calen Santos is a sophomore in public relations from Dothan, Alabama. On his way back from seeing his family for New Year’s Eve, he saw the shooting first hand.
Santos (middle) and two other survivors from the shooting
Santos said that the shooter started in the baggage claim, and while he was there Santos was already at his gate waiting to board.
He said that they didn’t know anything was going on until hours later. They were already safe and away from everything, and that’s when he began to find out all of the information. He also said they thought there were multiple shooters, just because of the rapidness of it all.
“What was kind of crazy was right before then, you would think the airport would let everyone know to just remain calm, whatever procedures they follow but it was quite the opposite. They didn’t tell us anything, right before all of the chaos happened they got on the announcer thing and said something of the sort of technical difficulties, all flights will be delayed.”
“We were talking amongst ourselves at the gate and this woman said, ‘My husband just told me a shooter is at the airport,’ and I go ‘What?’ And she goes, ‘yeah it’s on the news, on CNN right behind you.’ I look over my shoulder and I see on the screen it says “Shooter at Ft. Lauderdale Airport” and I was like that’s the airport I’m at and it’s so calm,” said Santos.
He thought he was fine. He called his mom and said, “There’s a shooter up here but I’m fine, my plane is about to board.” Shortly after that is when all of the screaming and yelling happened.
“At first it was like a lot of confusion because I did not know what was going on. But then when I realized what was going on it was absolutely terrifying. I felt like I was going to die, the whole time,” said Santos.
He said he couldn’t explain the feeling—it’s as if your stomach is dropping but multiplied.
Santos said his mom was scared and worried while his dad’s side of the family was calmer.
“My mom was a complete wreck because she was in Dothan, Alabama, hundreds of miles away, she was terrified. But then my dad and that family, I feel like since they live in Miami, dangerous stuff like that happens more often. They know more of how to react. My mom was like a complete wreck but my aunt was more like in crisis mode,” said Santos.
He said that this incident also made him, his friends and his family look at things differently. Santos said he was going into the New Year saying he would live his life to the fullest and wouldn’t stress over things that are out of his control. He said God has a plan for him and he isn’t going to stress about it.
“It just kind of made me realize your days are numbered. You’re not promised tomorrow, you have to be honest with people, you have to live your life to the fullest because you never know when it’s going to be your last day,” said Santos.
He also said it made him realize how loved he is. Everyone telling him that they didn’t know what they would have done without him made him feel special and made him realize his worth to people. Santos said that one of his friends started crying and said, “I could not imagine what I would have done if I have to attend your funeral.”
“My friends say I know you’re tired of hearing people say ‘I’m so glad you’re okay,’ but I know they’re coming from a good place. But what’s annoying is the people who have read the articles and don’t know me,” said Santos. For instance, he went to Quixotes and was standing there talking to his friends when he noticed people staring and whispering. He felt like that was rude.
Santos escaped the incident with no scratches or bruises, and the Auburn family is glad he’s doing well.