|
From A.M. Costa Rica:
Costa Rican native is
shooting victim in Miami
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
and wire services
A Costa Rica-born U.S. citizen became the major international news story Wednesday when a sky marshal shot and killed him at Miami's International Airport.
The man is 44-year-old Rigoberto Alpizar, formerly of Guanacaste. He may have been in the throes of a mental disorder because law officers say he claimed to have a bomb in a backpack he carried on the passageway to his airplane. No bomb was found.
The afternoon incident is the first shooting involving the marshals that were put on airplanes after Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
In what law enforcement officials described as an unfortunate event and an isolated incident, the shooting took place near Flight 924, a Boeing 757 heading from Miami to Orlando. Alpizar and his wife had just returned to the United States from South America where they had been involved in dental missionary work in Ecuador. They had been there since Thanksgiving.
James E. Bauer, special agent in charge of the Federal Air Marshals field office in Miami, said Alpizar threatened to blow up a bomb in his backpack.
"At some point, he uttered threatening words that included a sense to the effect that he had a bomb. There were federal air marshals on board the aircraft," said Bauer. "They came out of their cover, confronted him, and he remained non-complaint with their instructions. As he was attempting to evade them, his actions caused the FAMs to fire shots and, in fact, he is deceased." FAM means federal air marshal.
A passenger on the flight said Alpizar ran down the aisle of the airplane while his wife cried that he was mentally ill and had not taken his medication.
Federal authorities said they found no evidence of explosives. FBI agent Andy Apollony said investigators were considering whether the threat was terrorism-related.
"Anytime there's an individual that's on a plane or is attempting to board a plane and says he has a bomb, we're going to be interested in that from a terrorism nexus," he said.
Before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, there were only a few dozen federal air marshals, who flew mostly on international routes. Thousands have since been hired to protect aircraft and their passengers.
After the shooting, agents unloaded the luggage on the aircraft and blew up two suitcases when trained bomb sniffing dogs showed an interest.
Alpizar moved to the United States in 1986. He worked at Home Depot, a construction supply store. He lived in Maitland, Fla.
The news story captured the attention of the major television news outlets, and congressmen, physicians and terrorism experts were among those interviewed on the topic.
_________________
PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Calendar
Pura Vida 
