19yearold opens fire in Florida high school, 17 people killed

Shooter was carrying an AR15 rifle, was wearing a gas mask and had smoke grenades

WASHINGTON: A lone gunman on Wednesday opened fire at a high school in the US state of Florida, killing at least 17 people and injuring a further 15.

The shooting took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland city, Broward County, at around 2:30 pm, minutes before school was to end. The assailant was identified as 19-year-old Nikolaus Cruz, a former student of the school who had been expelled a year ago for “disciplinary problems”.

Investigators said Cruz was carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and multiple magazines. He has been charged with 17 counts of murder.

The firearm used has a bloody past — it has been used in several mass shootings in the past.

“This is catastrophic,” said Sheriff Scott Israel, whose three children graduated from the same school. “There really are no words.”

Witnesses indicated the assailant had planned the shooting meticulously with the intention to maximize casualties — he came wearing a gas mask and was carrying smoke grenades. He then set off a fire alarm to draw students into the school’s hallway as he waited for them at the entrance.

Most of the victims were shot inside the school building. He was apprehended without incident after an hour, and is said to be cooperating with investigators.

Robert Runcie, the superintendent of Broward County schools, told reporters: “We received no warning. Potentially there could have been signs out there. But we didn’t have any warning or phone calls or threats that were made.”

But a teacher of the school told the Miami Herald that Cruz had been identified as a potential threat to fellow students in the past and that school authorities had sent out an email warning teachers of the assailant’s threats to other teenagers.

President Donald Trump — a supporter of gun rights — on Wednesday tweeted: “My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.”

On Thursday, he tweeted, “So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again! (sic)”

In an address to the nation later that day, he said he will discuss the issue of safety at schools and mental health at an upcoming annual meeting with state governors.