2018 — Feb 14, School Shooting, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, FL-17
–17 CNN. “Another ‘unspeakable tragedy’ at a US school leaves 17 dead in Florida.” 2-15-2018.
–17 Time. “What to Know About Alleged Florida School Shooter Nikolas Cruz. 2-15-2018.
Narrative Information
Time, Feb 15: “Nikolas Cruz, the expelled student suspected of killing at least 17 people[1] and injuring more than a dozen others at his former high school in Parkland, Florida, was described by his former classmates as a loner with a temper. On Thursday [Feb 15], the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said Cruz confessed to being the shooter.
“The 19-year-old was charged Thursday with 17 counts of premeditated murder, after he allegedly opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday afternoon [Feb 14]. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting is the 6th school shooting resulting in injuries this year. There have been 17 incidents of gunfire in schools this year, according to gun control group Everytown USA.
“Authorities said Cruz used an AR-15 rifle — a semi-automatic assault-style rifle that has been used in numerous other mass shootings — th the shooting. He also hid additional magazines in his vest and backpack, according to the police report. The suspect, who was expelled from the school last year for disciplinary reasons, was taken into custody about an hour after fleeing school grounds….
“Described by former classmates as ‘loner,’ Cruz was an orphaned teenager whose mother died in November 2017, according to The Sun-Sentinel. His mother and her husband, who died years ago, according to the paper, had adopted Cruz and his biological brother. The two boys had then moved in with a family friend….
“More than 3,200 students attend…[the] High School, where approximately 130 teachers work….
“During his rampage, the shooter fired into five classrooms across three floors of the building, according to the sheriff. Next, after making his way up three floors…[he] dropped his rifle and backpack and ran outside….
“Then…[he] ran to a Wal-Mart at 2:50 p.m., where he bought a drink…He went to a nearby McDonalds ten minutes later and left shortly after. A police officer found the suspect waling, and arrested him without incident at 3:41 p.m. ….
“Broward County Mayor Beam Furr told CNN the suspected shooter had gotten treatment from a mental health clinic for a period of time….
“Documents uncovered by the Miami Herald…revealed that Florida’s Department of Children and Families investigated Cruz after he posted Snapchat videos that showed him cutting his arms. The report listed Cruz as an ‘alleged victim’ of medical neglect and inadequate supervision, but he was deemed stable….
“In September 2017, YouTube user Ben Bennight told the FBI about a worrisome comment left on one of his videos written by ‘nikolas cruz.’ The comment, as detailed by an FBI agent at a press conference Thursday, said, ‘I’m going to be a professional school shooter.’ Bennight told BuzzFeed News that the FBI visited him in September and asked if he knew the user. He said he did not, and the FBI ‘took a copy of the screenshot and that was the last time I heard from them,’ he said….” (Time. “What to Know About…Florida School Shooter Nikolas Cruz.” 2-15-2018.)
Feb 22, CNN: “Parkland, Florida (CNN) The school resource deputy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, waited outside the school building as the shooting unfolded last week, officials said. Scot Peterson never went in after taking a position on the west side of the building, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said at a Thursday afternoon news conference. Peterson resigned after he was suspended without pay by Israel pending an internal investigation into his actions during the shooting that left 17 people dead, Israel said. Peterson was eligible for retirement. Israel made the decision to suspend Peterson — who was armed and in uniform at the time of the shooting — after interviewing the deputy and reviewing footage and witness statements, he said….Israel told reporters Peterson should have ‘[w]ent in. Addressed the killer, Killed the killer.’ Instead, the deputy waited outside for about four minutes….
“Israel said two other deputies have been placed on restrictive duty while the sheriff’s office investigates their actions during calls to the gunman’s home before the shooting.
“Since 2008, he said, the sheriff’s office was involved in 23 calls involving either Nikolas Cruz or his brother. During some of the calls — which ere both in person and on the phone — deputies met with Cruz’s mother….
“Officials also reported Thursday that surveillance footage from the school shooting was not shown live, as responding officers initially thought. According to Coral Springs Police Chief Tony Pustizzi, the footage had been rewound, and police were watching in on a 20-minute delay, leading them to believe the gunman, Nikolas Cruz, was still in the building when he was long gone….” (CNN. “Stoneman Douglas school resource officer stayed outside as shooting unfolded, sheriff says.” 2-22-2018.)
Fatalities
Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, student.
Martin DuQue Anguiano, 14, student.
Scott Beigel, 35, geography teacher.
Nicholas Dwaret, 17, student.
Aaron Feis, 37, assistant football coach.
Jaime Guttenberg, 14, student.
Chris Hixon, 49, athletic director.
Luke Hoyer, 15, student.
Cara Loughran, 14, student.
Gina Montalto, 14, student.
Joaquin Oliver, 17, student.
Alaina Petty, 14, student.
Meadow Pollack, 18, student.
Helena Ramsay, 17, student.
Alex Schachter, 14, student.
Carmen Schentrup, 16, student.
Peter Wang, 15, student.
(CNN. “These are the victims of the Florida school shooting.” 2-21-2018.)
Sources
CNN. “Another ‘unspeakable tragedy’ at a US school leaves 17 dead in Florida.” 2-15-2018. Accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/us/florida-high-school-shooting/index.html
CNN (Chuck Johnston, Jamiel Lynch and Dakin Andone). “Stoneman Douglas school resource officer stayed outside as shooting unfolded, sheriff says.” 2-22-2018. Accessed 2-22-2018 at: https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/us/florida-school-shooting/index.html
CNN (Eric Levenson and Joe Sterling). “These are the victims of the Florida school shooting.” 2-21-2018. Accessed 2-22-2018 at: https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/us/florida-shooting-victims-school/index.html
Sun Sentinel, FL. “Florida school shooting: The latest.” 2-22-2018. Accessed 2-22-2018 at: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-florida-school-shooting-latest-updates-thursday-20180222-story.html
Time (John Patrick Pullen, Casey Quackenbush, Jennifer Calfas, and Abigail Abrams). “What to Know About Alleged Florida School Shooter Nikolas Cruz.” 2-15-2018. Accessed 2-22-2018 at: http://time.com/5159134/who-is-the-florida-shooter-parkland-nicolas-cruz/
[1] Fourteen students and three educators. Sun Sentinel, FL. “Florida school shooting: The latest.” 2-22-2018.