Parkland shooting suspect in video: ‘You’re all going to die’
Prosecutors release cellphone footage found after attack
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In chilling cellphone videos released Wednesday, the 19-year-old suspect in February’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland announced his intention to become the next school shooter, saying, “You’re all going to die.”
The three videos released by prosecutors were found on the cellphone of suspect Nikolas Cruz after the Feb. 14 shooting that killed 17 people and injured 17 others.
Cruz introduces himself in the first video and says he is “going to be the next school shooter of 2018.” He goes on to say that he wants to use an AR-15 to kill at least 20 people and specifies the high school in Parkland.
“When you see me on the news, you’ll all know who I am,” he says and then laughs. “You’re all going to die. Can’t wait.”
In a second video, Cruz discusses logistics, including that he will take an Uber to campus at about 2:40. He then says he’ll walk onto campus, go up some stairs, open his bag to take out his weapon and start firing.
In the third video, he talks about his loneliness, anger and hatred, and announces that the “day of my massacre shall begin.”
Cruz is charged with 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the attack.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott called for schools to have more armed personnel and said the state should put a bigger focus on spotting student mental health problems, but he proposed only a few small restrictions on guns following a May 18 shooting at Nikolas Cruz, 19, made cellphone videos before the attack in Parkland, Fla. Santa Fe High School near Houston that killed 10 and wounded 13.
Abbott released a 43page report after three days of mostly closed- door meetings last week that the GOP governor organized with school district officials, shooting survivors and groups on both sides of the gun-control debate, among others.
The recommendations are voluntary, and some would require changes to state laws that would need approval from the Legislature, which doesn’t come back into session until 2019. School districts wishing to make some of the changes could begin doing so, such as sending staff for free gun training this summer.
The lack of major gun control measures is not surprising in a state that embraces its gun-friendly reputation and has more than 1.2 million people licensed to carry handguns.
The only significant gunrelated proposal mentioned by Abbott for Texas was a possible “red flag,” which allows family, law enforcement and others to file a petition to remove firearms from a potentially dangerous person.
Abbott gave the proposal only a tepid endorsement, asking leaders of the Legislature to “consider the merits” of such a law.
Eight states have red flag laws and three — Florida, Maryland and Vermont — passed them after the mass shooting in Parkland.
Abbott, a staunch supporter of gun rights, is proposing a change to the state law that says guns can’t be made accessible to children under 17, with exceptions such as hunting or parent supervision. He’s encouraging the Legislature to consider making the law also apply to 17-yearolds.
Authorities have charged student Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, with capital murder at Santa Fe High School. Pagourtzis is accused of using a shotgun and a .38 revolver that belonged to his father.
Abbott also wants a new law that would require gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm within 10 days.
President Donald Trump will meet families of the victims during a visit to the state Thursday.
In Indiana, comfort dogs, principals and counselors greeted students Wednesday as they returned to Noblesville West Middle School in suburban Indianapolis five days after officials say a male student shot and wounded a 13year-old classmate and a teacher.
Noblesville Schools spokesman Marnie Cooke said the school day would be shorter than usual through Friday — the end of the school year — so officials can focus on counseling students still shaken by the May 25 shooting.
Science teacher Jason Seaman, a former college football player, has been hailed for tackling the shooter who wounded Ella Whistler. She remained hospitalized in Indianapolis, although school officials said her condition was improving.
Prosecutors said Tuesday that they must wait until charges are filed before releasing information about the suspect.