PARKLAND, Florida — A former student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday afternoon, killing at least 17 people and injuring more than a dozen others in one of the deadliest school shootings in American history .
Authorities have identified the suspect as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student who had been expelled for disciplinary reasons . Cruz was taken into custody in nearby Coral Springs approximately two hours after the attack . He is facing 17 counts of premeditated murder and remains held without bond .
The attack unfolded shortly before dismissal as students prepared to leave for the day. According to law enforcement officials, Cruz entered the freshman building armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and began firing . The chaos that followed has been described by first responders as harrowing. Coral Springs Detective Mindy Mazzei recounted entering the building and smelling gunpowder and blood, encountering bodies and scattered belongings . “There were books, there were folders. It just, it just looked chaotic,” she said .
Students described the terror of hearing the fire alarm and initially believing it to be a drill, only to realize they were under attack . As shots rang out, students barricaded themselves in classrooms and sheltered under desks . Video footage from inside the school captured the sound of repeated gunfire as students hid in fear .
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel confirmed the death toll, which includes students and staff members, and noted that the weapon used was easily accessible in most parts of the United States . “It’s a horrible day for us,” said Robert Runcie, superintendent of Broward County Public Schools .
The FBI confirmed it was providing assistance to local authorities. Investigators later revealed that the bureau had been warned about a concerning social media post made by a user named Nikolas Cruz months prior, but they lacked specific information about timing or location .
The tragedy has reignited national debates over gun control, school safety, and mental health. President Donald Trump, who was briefed on the attack, tweeted, “No child, teacher, or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school” . Community members and advocates have begun grieving, with vigils planned across the state. This devastating incident marks one of the worst school shootings in Florida since the 2018 massacre at the same high school, which left 17 dead and brought national attention to the epidemic of gun violence in American schools .
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