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| Florida Shooting: ‘That’s What These People Are Killing, Our Future’ | Florida Shooting: ‘That’s What These People Are Killing, Our Future’ |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| PARKLAND, Fla. — The suspect in one of the deadliest school shootings in modern American history took an Uber ride to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where he pulled out a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle and began firing at students in hallways and classrooms, the authorities said Thursday. | PARKLAND, Fla. — The suspect in one of the deadliest school shootings in modern American history took an Uber ride to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where he pulled out a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle and began firing at students in hallways and classrooms, the authorities said Thursday. |
| The suspect, Nikolas Cruz, 19, eventually discarded the rifle, a vest and ammunition in a stairwell, blended in with fleeing students and got away, the authorities said. He stopped at a Subway and a McDonald’s before the police arrested him without incident as he walked down a residential street less than 90 minutes after the shooting started Wednesday. | The suspect, Nikolas Cruz, 19, eventually discarded the rifle, a vest and ammunition in a stairwell, blended in with fleeing students and got away, the authorities said. He stopped at a Subway and a McDonald’s before the police arrested him without incident as he walked down a residential street less than 90 minutes after the shooting started Wednesday. |
| “He looked like a typical high school student, and for a quick moment I thought, could this be the person who I need to stop?” said Officer Michael Leonard. | “He looked like a typical high school student, and for a quick moment I thought, could this be the person who I need to stop?” said Officer Michael Leonard. |
| Here are the takeaways: | Here are the takeaways: |
| • Mr. Cruz faces 17 counts of premeditated murder, one for each of those killed. He is being held without bond at the main Broward County jail, where he has been placed on suicide watch, according to Gordon Weekes, the county’s chief assistant public defender. | • Mr. Cruz faces 17 counts of premeditated murder, one for each of those killed. He is being held without bond at the main Broward County jail, where he has been placed on suicide watch, according to Gordon Weekes, the county’s chief assistant public defender. |
| • The AR-15 rifle used in the attack was bought legally in 2017 at Sunrise Tactical Supply in Florida, officials said. | • The AR-15 rifle used in the attack was bought legally in 2017 at Sunrise Tactical Supply in Florida, officials said. |
| • The F.B.I. said Thursday that it received information last year about a threatening comment made on a YouTube channel that has been attributed to the gunman, but that it could not then identify who was behind it. | • The F.B.I. said Thursday that it received information last year about a threatening comment made on a YouTube channel that has been attributed to the gunman, but that it could not then identify who was behind it. |
| • In Florida, an AR-15 is easier to buy than a handgun. Read more on how the AR-15 became one of the weapons of choice for mass killers, and the research that tries to explain the high rate of mass shootings in the United States. | • In Florida, an AR-15 is easier to buy than a handgun. Read more on how the AR-15 became one of the weapons of choice for mass killers, and the research that tries to explain the high rate of mass shootings in the United States. |
| • Three of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern United States history have come in the last five months. Here is a graphic that records the grim toll of school shootings across the nation. | • Three of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern United States history have come in the last five months. Here is a graphic that records the grim toll of school shootings across the nation. |
| • A huge crowd gathered at Pine Trails Park in Parkland for an emotional vigil for those killed. The football team gathered separately nearby, forming a circle and locking hands before praying for a coach and an athletic director who died. Read more about the victims here. | • A huge crowd gathered at Pine Trails Park in Parkland for an emotional vigil for those killed. The football team gathered separately nearby, forming a circle and locking hands before praying for a coach and an athletic director who died. Read more about the victims here. |
| • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. | • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. |
| On Friday, a sense of unease still permeated the nation’s schools, driven in several places by anonymous threats. The Gilchrist County School District in Florida closed all public schools Friday morning, after receiving an email threat the previous night. | |
| A school district in Redwater, Tex., planned to lock its doors, in a protective measure meant to address what a superintendent said was “a rumor about a possible shooter.” | |
| The Nutley Public School System in New Jersey said that it would be closed Friday because of a security threat. And a school in Massachusetts said it would deploy more police officers and do random security checks throughout the day, because of a threatening post on social media. | |
| Among the victims were Aaron Feis, a popular football coach, Christopher Hixon, the school’s athletic director, and Scott Beigel, a geography teacher credited with saving a boy’s life. | Among the victims were Aaron Feis, a popular football coach, Christopher Hixon, the school’s athletic director, and Scott Beigel, a geography teacher credited with saving a boy’s life. |
| Mr. Feis was seen as someone who looked out for students who got in trouble, those who were struggling, those without fathers at home. “He’d go out of his way to help anybody,” said Mr. Feis’s grandfather. | Mr. Feis was seen as someone who looked out for students who got in trouble, those who were struggling, those without fathers at home. “He’d go out of his way to help anybody,” said Mr. Feis’s grandfather. |
| The teenagers who died enjoyed soccer, swimming, dance and marching band. Some did church volunteer work or were involved in Junior ROTC. Seven were only 14. | The teenagers who died enjoyed soccer, swimming, dance and marching band. Some did church volunteer work or were involved in Junior ROTC. Seven were only 14. |
| In an orange jumpsuit and shackled around his hands, feet and waist, Mr. Cruz was asked if he understood the circumstances of his appearance in court. “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered. | In an orange jumpsuit and shackled around his hands, feet and waist, Mr. Cruz was asked if he understood the circumstances of his appearance in court. “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered. |
| “He’s sad. He’s mournful,” his public defender, Melisa McNeill, said afterward. “He is fully aware of what is going on, and he’s just a broken human being.” | “He’s sad. He’s mournful,” his public defender, Melisa McNeill, said afterward. “He is fully aware of what is going on, and he’s just a broken human being.” |
| Mr. Weekes, the chief assistant public defender, said lawyers were still trying to piece together the details of Mr. Cruz’s life. He has a “significant” history of mental illness, according to Mr. Weekes, and may be autistic or have a learning disability. | Mr. Weekes, the chief assistant public defender, said lawyers were still trying to piece together the details of Mr. Cruz’s life. He has a “significant” history of mental illness, according to Mr. Weekes, and may be autistic or have a learning disability. |
| But Mr. Weekes was not ready to say whether he would pursue a mental health defense. | But Mr. Weekes was not ready to say whether he would pursue a mental health defense. |
| Howard Finkelstein, the chief public defender in Broward County, said the case would present a difficult question: Should society execute mentally ill people? | Howard Finkelstein, the chief public defender in Broward County, said the case would present a difficult question: Should society execute mentally ill people? |
| “There’s no question of whether he will be convicted of capital murder 17 times,” he said. “When we let one of our children fall off grid, when they are screaming for help in every way, do we have the right to kill them when we could have stopped it?” | “There’s no question of whether he will be convicted of capital murder 17 times,” he said. “When we let one of our children fall off grid, when they are screaming for help in every way, do we have the right to kill them when we could have stopped it?” |
| After Mr. Cruz’s mother died last fall, the family that took him in, the Sneads, had seen signs of depression but nothing indicating he was capable of such violence, Jim Lewis, the family’s lawyer, said. The family had allowed Mr. Cruz to bring his gun with him to their house, insisting that he keep it in a lockbox. | After Mr. Cruz’s mother died last fall, the family that took him in, the Sneads, had seen signs of depression but nothing indicating he was capable of such violence, Jim Lewis, the family’s lawyer, said. The family had allowed Mr. Cruz to bring his gun with him to their house, insisting that he keep it in a lockbox. |
| Mr. Lewis had encouraged Mr. Cruz to attend adult education courses, work toward his G.E.D. and take a job at a local Dollar Tree store, he said in a brief interview. The Sneads’ son, a junior, knew Mr. Cruz from Stoneman Douglas High. | Mr. Lewis had encouraged Mr. Cruz to attend adult education courses, work toward his G.E.D. and take a job at a local Dollar Tree store, he said in a brief interview. The Sneads’ son, a junior, knew Mr. Cruz from Stoneman Douglas High. |
| On Wednesday, Mr. Cruz and the Sneads’ son were texting until 2:18 p.m., Mr. Lewis said — about five minutes before the first 911 calls about the shooting. “But there was nothing crazy in the texts,” Mr. Lewis said. Here is our profile of Mr. Cruz. | On Wednesday, Mr. Cruz and the Sneads’ son were texting until 2:18 p.m., Mr. Lewis said — about five minutes before the first 911 calls about the shooting. “But there was nothing crazy in the texts,” Mr. Lewis said. Here is our profile of Mr. Cruz. |
| Students and parents in Parkland, an affluent suburb in Florida’s most intensely Democratic county, said a focus from policymakers on treating mental illness was not enough. | Students and parents in Parkland, an affluent suburb in Florida’s most intensely Democratic county, said a focus from policymakers on treating mental illness was not enough. |
| Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa, 14, was killed, made an emotional plea for action. | Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa, 14, was killed, made an emotional plea for action. |
| “President Trump, we need action, we need change,” she said, the urgency rising in her voice. “Get these guns out of the hands of these young kids and get these guns off the streets.” | “President Trump, we need action, we need change,” she said, the urgency rising in her voice. “Get these guns out of the hands of these young kids and get these guns off the streets.” |
| “If we’re constantly having our children worried about getting shot at, what are we telling our future?” said David Hogg, 17, a senior, who said two of his 14-year-old sister’s friends were killed. “And that’s what these people are killing, our future.” | “If we’re constantly having our children worried about getting shot at, what are we telling our future?” said David Hogg, 17, a senior, who said two of his 14-year-old sister’s friends were killed. “And that’s what these people are killing, our future.” |
| Robert Runcie, the superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, did not mince words, saying, “Now is the time for the country to have a real conversation on sensible gun controls in this country.” | Robert Runcie, the superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, did not mince words, saying, “Now is the time for the country to have a real conversation on sensible gun controls in this country.” |
| Democrats in Congress welcomed such a debate. “At some point, we’ve got to say enough is enough,” Senator Bill Nelson of Florida said on the Senate floor. | Democrats in Congress welcomed such a debate. “At some point, we’ve got to say enough is enough,” Senator Bill Nelson of Florida said on the Senate floor. |
| But in an interview on WIBC radio on Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan said that public policymakers “shouldn’t just knee-jerk before we even have all the facts and the data.” He added, “We need to think less about taking sides and fighting each other politically, and just pulling together.” | But in an interview on WIBC radio on Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan said that public policymakers “shouldn’t just knee-jerk before we even have all the facts and the data.” He added, “We need to think less about taking sides and fighting each other politically, and just pulling together.” |
| In an address to the nation, President Trump announced he would visit Parkland and work with the nation’s governors “to help secure our schools, and tackle the difficult issue of mental health.” But he made no mention of guns. | In an address to the nation, President Trump announced he would visit Parkland and work with the nation’s governors “to help secure our schools, and tackle the difficult issue of mental health.” But he made no mention of guns. |
| Ben Bennight, a bail bondsman in Mississippi, said in an interview that he reported a suspicious comment left on his YouTube channel last fall by a user named “nikolas cruz.” | Ben Bennight, a bail bondsman in Mississippi, said in an interview that he reported a suspicious comment left on his YouTube channel last fall by a user named “nikolas cruz.” |
| “I’m going to be a professional school shooter,” the Sept. 24 comment said. | “I’m going to be a professional school shooter,” the Sept. 24 comment said. |
| Mr. Bennight took a screenshot of the comment and flagged it to YouTube, which removed the post. Mr. Bennight said he then left a voice mail message at his local F.B.I. field office, alerting it to the comment. | Mr. Bennight took a screenshot of the comment and flagged it to YouTube, which removed the post. Mr. Bennight said he then left a voice mail message at his local F.B.I. field office, alerting it to the comment. |
| Mr. Bennight, 36, said that when he originally reported the comments to the F.B.I., a pair of agents interviewed him the next morning. Mr. Bennight said two F.B.I. agents visited him a few hours after the shooting on Wednesday, spending about 15 to 20 minutes with him and saying the person who posted on his channel might be connected to the Florida attack. | Mr. Bennight, 36, said that when he originally reported the comments to the F.B.I., a pair of agents interviewed him the next morning. Mr. Bennight said two F.B.I. agents visited him a few hours after the shooting on Wednesday, spending about 15 to 20 minutes with him and saying the person who posted on his channel might be connected to the Florida attack. |
| The F.B.I. released a statement on Thursday that acknowledged having gotten information about a YouTube comment last September but said it had not been possible to identify who left it, despite database reviews and other checks. “No other information was included in the comment which would indicate a particular time, location, or the true identity of the person who posted the comment,” the statement said. | The F.B.I. released a statement on Thursday that acknowledged having gotten information about a YouTube comment last September but said it had not been possible to identify who left it, despite database reviews and other checks. “No other information was included in the comment which would indicate a particular time, location, or the true identity of the person who posted the comment,” the statement said. |
| While Jordan Jereb, a leader of a white supremacist group based in North Florida, told The Associated Press on Thursday that Mr. Cruz had joined the group, he later said he did not know if that was true. The Broward County sheriff, Scott Israel, said he could not confirm any such ties. | While Jordan Jereb, a leader of a white supremacist group based in North Florida, told The Associated Press on Thursday that Mr. Cruz had joined the group, he later said he did not know if that was true. The Broward County sheriff, Scott Israel, said he could not confirm any such ties. |
| Moises Lobaton, a senior, was in psychology class when gunfire boomed. The students scurried to try to hide as far from the door as possible. | Moises Lobaton, a senior, was in psychology class when gunfire boomed. The students scurried to try to hide as far from the door as possible. |
| “There wasn’t enough space behind the desk, so not all of the kids could fit,” he said. | “There wasn’t enough space behind the desk, so not all of the kids could fit,” he said. |
| Shots shattered a glass window on the door, injuring at least three of his classmates, including a girl who “wasn’t moving at all.” | Shots shattered a glass window on the door, injuring at least three of his classmates, including a girl who “wasn’t moving at all.” |
| “She was next to a pool of blood, but I couldn’t tell if it was hers or the guy next to hers,” he said. The boy had been shot in the arm and was bleeding profusely. His classmates wrapped the arm in cloth. Another boy called 911. | “She was next to a pool of blood, but I couldn’t tell if it was hers or the guy next to hers,” he said. The boy had been shot in the arm and was bleeding profusely. His classmates wrapped the arm in cloth. Another boy called 911. |
| “The shots were something I’ll never forget. It sounded like bombs going off, one at a time,” he said. “If I was one or two feet to the right, I would have died.” | “The shots were something I’ll never forget. It sounded like bombs going off, one at a time,” he said. “If I was one or two feet to the right, I would have died.” |