Federal Air Marshals “demonstrated remarkable restraint in dealing with” an unarmed man whom they fired upon nine times and killed with at least four bullets outside a parked airliner at Miami International Airport. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office has determined the unidentified marshals were “legally justified” in killing Rigoberto Alpizar when he bolted from the aircraft after the Air Marshals say he told other passengers that he was carrying a bomb and would detonate it. The names of the Air Marshals were not released and they will be flying again, “shortly,” according to a TSA spokesman quoted by the Miami Herald.
The marshals fired nine times after Alpizar reached into a backpack that he was wearing on his chest and, according to one of the marshals, said, “I’m going to blow up this bomb.” There was a bottle of water in the backpack.
Air Marshals Cleared In Passenger Shooting
Key Takeaways:
- Federal Air Marshals shot and killed Rigoberto Alpizar at Miami International Airport after he claimed to have a bomb and reached into his backpack while bolting from a plane.
- The marshals, who fired nine times, were found to have been "legally justified" in their actions by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office, despite Alpizar only having a bottle of water in his backpack.
- The State Attorney's office stated the marshals "demonstrated remarkable restraint," and they will return to duty "shortly," with their names remaining undisclosed.
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