Suspect Accused of Firing Toward Miami Airport Terminal Appears in Court
A 31-year-old man accused of firing shots from a parking garage toward the terminal at Miami International Airport (MIA) in Florida has appeared in court on multiple charges.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, on the second floor of the airport’s short-term parking garage. Francisco Ivan Mendiola, who was reportedly intoxicated, allegedly loaded a firearm and fired four shots toward the terminal. Three bullets struck a trash can, while another hit the windshield of an unoccupied parked Dodge Challenger.
Mendiola faces charges including shooting or throwing a deadly missile, discharging a firearm in public and two counts of criminal damage to property. Prosecutors argued that the shots were fired toward an occupied airport terminal, which is continuously used by passengers and employees. The defence disputed the charge, noting that none of the bullets directly struck the terminal building.
Mendiola’s bond was set at $26,000, and he remains in custody.
