Local law enforcement are reporting “multiple fatalities” in connection with another school shooting – this one in South Florida.
Early reports from Broward County, Florida sheriff Scott Israel indicate 17 people lost their lives in connection with the incident.
Wednesday’s shooting took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida – a town of around 25,000 people located approximately thirty miles north of Miami.
The shooting began at around 2:40 p.m. EST as the school – which has an estimated 3,200 students – was preparing to dismiss for the day. The school initiated a “code red” lockdown in response to the shooting.
“Students and staff heard what sounded like gunfire,” a tweet from the district’s official account noted. “The school immediately went on lockdown.”
“My school is being shot up and I am locked inside,” one student tweeted shortly after 3:00 p.m. EST. “I’m f*cking scared right now.”
Broward County sheriff’s deputies announced just after 4:00 p.m. EST that the alleged shooter was “in custody.” Hours later they identified him as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school who had been expelled the previous year.
According to sheriff Israel, Cruz’s social media featured “very, very disturbing” content.
In addition to local law enforcement assets, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are responding to the shooting.
“My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting,” U.S. president Donald Trump tweeted. “No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.”
Trump added that he spoken with Florida governor Rick Scott and that his administration was “working closely with law enforcement on the terrible Florida school shooting.”
UPDATE: FBI dropped ball on school shooter?
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