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Parkland shooting: Police capture gunman who left 'numerous fatalities' after opening fire at a Florida high school Parkland shooting: Police capture gunman who left 'numerous fatalities' after opening fire at a Florida high school
(35 minutes later)
Multiple people have been killed and more than a dozen injured after a former student entered a Florida high school and opened fire. Seventeen people have been killed and more than a dozen injured after a former student entered a Florida high school and opened fire, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel confirmed.
In the latest incident of gun violence to rock the US - there have reportedly been 18 school shootings so far in 2018 - police said a young man man entered the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, north of Miami, and began firing. He was subsequently named by US media as 19-year-old ex-student Nicolas Cruz. In the latest incident of gun violence to rock the US - there have reportedly been 18 school shootings so far in 2018 - police said a young man man entered the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, north of Miami, and began firing. He was subsequently named by US media as 19-year-old ex-student Nikolaus Cruz.
Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said that there were "numerous" fatalities, but that he was not immediately certain how many. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, when asked how many fatalities there were, simply said "multiple". "There are numerous fatalities. It's a horrific situation," Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told reporters.
"There are numerous fatalities. It's a horrific situation," Mr Runcie told reporters.
"It is a day that you pray every day that you never have to see,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “We didn’t have any phone calls or threats that we know of that were made. We cannot live in a world built on fear, we have do what we can to provide the greatest safety measures for our kids.”"It is a day that you pray every day that you never have to see,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “We didn’t have any phone calls or threats that we know of that were made. We cannot live in a world built on fear, we have do what we can to provide the greatest safety measures for our kids.”
When asked if the incident was related to mental health, Mr Runcie said: "No sane person is going to go and commit such an atrocity.When asked if the incident was related to mental health, Mr Runcie said: "No sane person is going to go and commit such an atrocity.
Local news reported that a number of people could be seen being loaded into ambulances on a stretcher soon after the shooting. Other students could be seen running to police safety outside of the school, where they all dumped their backpacks in a pile and were told to sit on the grass.Local news reported that a number of people could be seen being loaded into ambulances on a stretcher soon after the shooting. Other students could be seen running to police safety outside of the school, where they all dumped their backpacks in a pile and were told to sit on the grass.
At around 4.15pm, police said the shooter had been taken into custody after being tracked down without incident. The shooter was later identified by local media and the Associated Press as Mr Cruz.At around 4.15pm, police said the shooter had been taken into custody after being tracked down without incident. The shooter was later identified by local media and the Associated Press as Mr Cruz.
"We were told last year that he wasn't allowed on campus with a backpack on him," Jim Gard, a math teacher at the school who said he taught Mr Cruz last year, told the Miami Herald of Mr Cruz. "There were problems with him last year threatening students, and I guess he was asked to leave campus.""We were told last year that he wasn't allowed on campus with a backpack on him," Jim Gard, a math teacher at the school who said he taught Mr Cruz last year, told the Miami Herald of Mr Cruz. "There were problems with him last year threatening students, and I guess he was asked to leave campus."
Mr Israel later confirmed that Mr Cruz was expelled from the school, but did not provide a reason why. He said that the shooter was found with multiple magazines, and what investigators believed was one AR-15 rifle.
The school day at Stoneman Douglas typically ends at 2.40pm, and the first tweet from the Broward County Sheriff's Department about the incident came at 2.53pm.The school day at Stoneman Douglas typically ends at 2.40pm, and the first tweet from the Broward County Sheriff's Department about the incident came at 2.53pm.
One student was texting with a CBS reporter from inside a closet in the school, and described a chaotic scene.One student was texting with a CBS reporter from inside a closet in the school, and described a chaotic scene.
"All of a sudden there was a really loud noise... people are crying in the closet," the student told the reporter."All of a sudden there was a really loud noise... people are crying in the closet," the student told the reporter.
Students and their parents told how children hid in classrooms until they were rescued by armed police in tactical gear.Students and their parents told how children hid in classrooms until they were rescued by armed police in tactical gear.
McKenzie Hartley, who identified herself as the sister of a student at the school described the scene in a text message to Reuters: “She heard him shooting through the windows of classrooms and two students were shot.”McKenzie Hartley, who identified herself as the sister of a student at the school described the scene in a text message to Reuters: “She heard him shooting through the windows of classrooms and two students were shot.”
“My daughter, as of right now, she’s still trapped in a closet. She’s afraid to speak,” a man who identified himself as Caesar Figueroa and said his daughter was inside the school, told CBS News.“My daughter, as of right now, she’s still trapped in a closet. She’s afraid to speak,” a man who identified himself as Caesar Figueroa and said his daughter was inside the school, told CBS News.
“I told her, ‘Don’t call me, because I don’t want no one to hear your voice.’ So, she’s still trapped in a closet in there.”“I told her, ‘Don’t call me, because I don’t want no one to hear your voice.’ So, she’s still trapped in a closet in there.”
Aerial footage from local news showed a number of people lying on the ground outside the school, and being treated for injuries. Meanwhile, dozens of emergency vehicles responded to the scene, including a tank and armed law enforcement.Aerial footage from local news showed a number of people lying on the ground outside the school, and being treated for injuries. Meanwhile, dozens of emergency vehicles responded to the scene, including a tank and armed law enforcement.
President Donald Trump said on Twitter: "Just spoke to Governor Rick Scott. We are working closely with law enforcement on the terrible Florida school shooting."President Donald Trump said on Twitter: "Just spoke to Governor Rick Scott. We are working closely with law enforcement on the terrible Florida school shooting."
Those sentiments were echoed by Mr Scott, as well as Florida's Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson.Those sentiments were echoed by Mr Scott, as well as Florida's Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson.
"I've spoken with @BrowardSheriff Scott Israel, @browardschools Superintendent Robert Runice, and FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen regarding Stoneman Douglad High School. We'll continue to receive updates from law enfrocement," Mr Scott wrote on Twitter."I've spoken with @BrowardSheriff Scott Israel, @browardschools Superintendent Robert Runice, and FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen regarding Stoneman Douglad High School. We'll continue to receive updates from law enfrocement," Mr Scott wrote on Twitter.
"Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent," Mr Rubio tweeted. "Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.""Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent," Mr Rubio tweeted. "Today is that terrible day you pray never comes."