Seventeen people died in a school shooting in Broward County, Florida on Wednesday, according to the sheriff’s office.
"I'm saddened to say that 17 people lost their lives."- Sheriff Scott Israel #stonemanshooting
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
Around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, police responded to a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. At the time, the Broward County Sheriff’s office said it was “working a developing incident regarding a report of active shooter.”
#BSO is working a developing incident regarding a report of active shooter located at 5901 Pine Island Rd, Parkland. Here's what we know so far: deputies are responding to reports of a shooting at Stoneman Douglas High. There are reports of victims. PIO will be on scene 3:15pm.
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
About an hour later, the Broward County Sherriff said a suspect had been taken into custody.
Police have arrested a subject possibly in connection to the school shooting in Parkland https://t.co/QUWFGogcH2 pic.twitter.com/1F6UE8tDBW
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) February 14, 2018
Multiple outlets have identified the shooter as 19-year-old Nick Cruz, a former student who may been identified a potential threat to fellow students in the past, according to one teacher.
“We were told last year that he wasn’t allowed on campus with a backpack on him,” said one of Cruz’s former math teachers to the Miami Herald. “There were problems with him last year threatening students, and I guess he was asked to leave campus.”
According to South Florida news outlets, nearly 40 students and teachers were on lockdown inside the school in the middle of the afternoon.
Still locked in. I checked the local news and there is 20 victims. Long live Majory Stoneman Douglas High. pic.twitter.com/4kQMAlCBWt
— Aidan Minoff (@TheCaptainAidan) February 14, 2018
Local news outlets on the scene initially reported more than 20 people were injured. The fire department from nearby Margate, Florida said it was treating the situation as a “mass casualty incident” with 20 to 50 victims.
Margate Fire Department is reporting this is a "mass casualty incident" at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida; could be 20-50 victims pic.twitter.com/ovNjLeslWq
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) February 14, 2018
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) reported there were “many deaths.”
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson told Fox News "there are many deaths" in the high school shooting in Parkland.
— Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) February 14, 2018
President Donald Trump was briefed on the school shooting Wednesday afternoon and tweeted out his prayers and condolences to the victims and their families, tweeting, “no child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.”
My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2018
Just spoke to Governor Rick Scott. We are working closely with law enforcement on the terrible Florida school shooting.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2018
This is the 18th school shooting in 2018 so far.
This is a breaking news story and has been updated as more information emerged.
CORRECTION: This piece previously stated that this is the 19th school shooting in 2018. It is actually the 18th.