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 an unarmed man, Rigoberto Alpizar, at Miami International Airport after he claimed to have a bomb and reached into his backpack, which contained only a water bottle.
- The marshals fired nine times, hitting Alpizar with at least four bullets, in an incident the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office deemed "legally justified."
- The State Attorney's office praised the marshals for demonstrating "remarkable restraint."
- The names of the Air Marshals involved were not released, and they are expected to return to flying duty shortly.
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