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Nikolas Cruz: Depressed loner 'crazy about guns' Nikolas Cruz: Depressed loner 'crazy about guns'
(35 minutes later)
A grimly familiar picture is building of the suspect in America's latest mass shooting as a depressed loner with a fixation on guns.A grimly familiar picture is building of the suspect in America's latest mass shooting as a depressed loner with a fixation on guns.
One student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida told a local TV station that many had previously joked that Nikolas Cruz, 19, would be "the one to shoot up the school". One student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, told a local TV station that many had previously joked that Nikolas Cruz, 19, would be "the one to shoot up the school".
The suspect was expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons and behavioural issues, which reportedly included making threats to other students.The suspect was expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons and behavioural issues, which reportedly included making threats to other students.
Maths teacher Jim Gard also said Mr Cruz had a reputation for bad behaviour.Maths teacher Jim Gard also said Mr Cruz had a reputation for bad behaviour.
Florida shooting victims details emerge
"There were problems with him last year threatening students, and I guess he was asked to leave campus," he told the Miami Herald."There were problems with him last year threatening students, and I guess he was asked to leave campus," he told the Miami Herald.
He added that the school had sent out an email warning teachers about Mr Cruz's threats.He added that the school had sent out an email warning teachers about Mr Cruz's threats.
Mr Gard said that the suspect was so obsessed with one girl at the school that it approached "the point of stalking her".Mr Gard said that the suspect was so obsessed with one girl at the school that it approached "the point of stalking her".
Chad Williams, 18, told Reuters news agency Mr Cruz was "crazy about guns" and would regularly set off the fire alarm before he was eventually thrown out of the school for fighting.Chad Williams, 18, told Reuters news agency Mr Cruz was "crazy about guns" and would regularly set off the fire alarm before he was eventually thrown out of the school for fighting.
"He was kind of an outcast. He didn't have many friends," he said."He was kind of an outcast. He didn't have many friends," he said.
Images have begun circulating on social media that are apparently taken from two separate Instagram accounts belonging to Mr Cruz. Knives and guns feature in images taken from now-deleted Instagram accounts that apparently belonged to Mr Cruz.
The accounts, which have since been deleted, include a number of images of knives and guns. One picture shows a box of ammunition and another rifles spread on a bed.
One picture shows a box of ammunition and another shows numerous rifles spread on a bed.
In several images a masked man is shown holding up large knives to the camera.In several images a masked man is shown holding up large knives to the camera.
Student Matthew Walker told ABC News that Mr Cruz was known for posting pictures of weapons on social media. Student Matthew Walker told ABC News: "Everything he posts is about weapons. It's sick."
"Everything he posts is about weapons. It's sick," he said.
The mayor of Broward County, Mayor Beam Furr, told CNN that Mr Cruz had sought treatment at a mental health facility over a year ago.The mayor of Broward County, Mayor Beam Furr, told CNN that Mr Cruz had sought treatment at a mental health facility over a year ago.
The suspect allegedly carried out the massacre with an AR-15 that he had legally bought.
Shelby Speno, who once lived near the suspect, told the Orlando Sentinel that Mr Cruz was a known troublemaker in the neighbourhood.Shelby Speno, who once lived near the suspect, told the Orlando Sentinel that Mr Cruz was a known troublemaker in the neighbourhood.
She said he had shot at a householder's chickens, bitten a child, stole residents' post and threw eggs at her car while he was driving. She said he had shot at a householder's chickens, bitten a child, stole residents' post and threw eggs at her car while she was driving.
Police were called out a number of times, she said. Police were called out a number of times because of his anti-social behaviour, she said.
Mr Cruz was adopted at a young age, and had recently lost the parents who had raised him. Mr Cruz was adopted at a young age, and had recently lost the parents who raised him, according to local media.
The suspect's adoptive father Roger Cruz had died of a heart attack several years ago, and his adoptive mother Lynda Cruz died of pneumonia in November last year. The suspect's adoptive father Roger Cruz died of a heart attack several years ago, and his adoptive mother Lynda Cruz passed away of pneumonia in November last year.
After briefly staying with extended family members with his half-brother, he moved in with the family of a school friend. After briefly staying with extended family members with his half-brother, the suspect moved in with a school friend's family.
Jim Lewis, the family's lawyer, told WPTV: "They are heartbroken. The kid that lives here goes to that school and knows many of these kids. He is just as heartbroken and shocked as everyone else." Jim Lewis, the family's lawyer, told WPTV: "They are heartbroken. The kid that lives here goes to that school and knows many of these kids.
He said the family saw no sign the suspect was planning an attack in the 90 days he lived with them. "He is just as heartbroken and shocked as everyone else."
"The family brought him into their home," Mr Lewis told The Washington Post. He said the family saw no sign the suspect was planning an attack in the 90 days he lived with them."
"They got him a job at a local dollar store. He was depressed, maybe a little quirky. But they never saw anything violent." Mr Lewis told The Washington Post: "They got him a job at a local dollar store. He was depressed, maybe a little quirky.
"But they never saw anything violent."