Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Former Student Opens Fire at Florida High School, Killing 17

The suspect was identified as 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz

Nikolas Cruz was transported to the Broward County jail shortly after 5:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

A former student opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle at a Florida high school Wednesday, killing at least 17 people and sending hundreds of students fleeing into the streets in the nation's deadliest school shooting since a gunman attacked an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

The shooter, who was equipped with a gas mask and smoke grenades, opener fire on one of the state's largest schools, officials said.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, was arrested Wednesday and charged Thursday morning with 17 counts of murder. Authorities have offered no immediate details on any possible motive, except to say that Cruz had been kicked out of the school, which has about 3,000 students.

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Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said the suspect was expelled from the school "for disciplinary reasons," and that Cruz had an AR-15 and multiple magazines in his possession.

Broward County Schools superintendent Robert Runcie told reporters on Thursday that Cruz did not set off the school's fire alarms as originally thought - instead, it was the powder and smoke from the guns that set them off.

The suspect was taken into custody without resistance a mile away from the scene of the shooting. Investigators later learned the suspect had concealed himself in the crowd and was among those running out of the school.

He was wearing what appeared to be a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps shirt from the school with an eagle logo on the arm. Students told NBC Miami that Cruz was a part of the JROTC when he attended the school.

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Twelve of the victims were found dead inside the school. One of the victims has been identified as the school's football coach, Israel said. 

The sheriff said they've begun to investigate the suspect's social media and described it as "very disturbing."

He called the shooting a "horrific, homicidal and detestable act."

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Students are released from a lockdown outside of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., after a shooting on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018.
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People are brought out of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a shooting at the school that reportedly killed and injured multiple people on Feb. 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida.
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Medical personnel tend to a victim outside of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., after a shooting on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018.
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Parents wait for news after a reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018.
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Anxious family members watch a rescue vehicle pass by, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
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The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is seen after a shooting at the school that reportedly killed and injured multiple people on Feb. 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida.
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Family members embrace after a student walked out from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
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A law enforcement officer talks with students, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. A shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School sent students rushing into the streets as SWAT team members swarmed in and locked down the building.
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Students wait to be picked up after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018.
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Law enforcement officers block off a street following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
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Anxious family members wait for news of students as two people embrace, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
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Officers responded to the shooting at 5901 Pine Island Road, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office. Initial reports indicated multiple victims.
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Still locked in the school, a student at Stoneman Douglas took this shot from under a desk. Staff and students heard what sounded like gunfire and the school went into an immediate code red lock down, according to a spokesperson from Broward County Public Schools.
"My school is being shot up and I am locked inside," an unidentified student tweets from inside the school.
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Students in lockdown inside the school wait for word from police.
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SWAT and police officers surround the school as news of the school shooting broke.
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A group of people huddle together in prayer for the victims of the school shooting.
Gov. Rick Scott tweets that he spoke with Broward Sheriff Scott Israel, Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie and FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen regarding the shooting.
Another image of the scene surrounding the school as students inside wait for updates. Reports of one dead, more than 20 injured in the attack.
Police take shooting suspect into custody near scene of the high school shooting.
President Donald Trump tweets prayers and condolences for victims of the Florida shooting. The president also tweeted he spoke with Gov. Scott and is "working closely with law enforcement."
BSO says victims are being transported to Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health North Hospital.
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Parents walk away from Stoneman Douglas with their kids as deputies continue streaming into the area.
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Parents walk away from Stoneman Douglas with their kids as deputies continue streaming into the area.
A photo of Nikolas Cruz being arrested in South Florida on Feb. 14, 2018, after he allegedly opened fire at a high school.
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Bob Ossler, Chaplin with the Cape Coral Fire Department, hangs 17 crosses on a fence near Stoneman Douglas to commemorate and remember each victim of Wednesday's mass shooting.

Five of the victims are in critical condition, said Benny Menendez, chief medical director at the Emergency Department of Broward Health North.

"Most of the victims we've had here have had gunshot wounds," Menendez said.

Multiple students confirmed that there was a fire drill early in the morning, and when the fire alarm rang again later in the afternoon, "no one expected anything that was gonna happen," one student told NBC 6.

School board officials said staff and students heard what sounded like gunfire shortly before dismissal and the school went on an immediate lockdown.

Footage posted on social media showed students cowering under desks in one classroom as gunshots rang out.
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NBC 6 spoke to the older brother of one student, who said his sister, a sophomore, was safe but “trembling in shock” at the scene unfolding at her high school.

“It’s just complete chaos out there,” he said a short distance from the school. “She was numb.”

NBC 6 also spoke with a father who was able to communicate with his child inside the school. "I'm relieved that [the suspect] has been captured, at least that part of its over. The stress from this is too much." He said his child is safe.

"This is just the worst kind of tragedy," said U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, who represents the district that includes parts of Parkland. "It's a great community and it's just so awful to see the images coming out of there."

Congressman Ted Deutch, who represents the district that includes parts of Parkland, discusses the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The school will remain closed for the rest of the week, and all school activities have been canceled, Broward City Public Schools tweeted.

Broward School Superintendent Robert Runcie said Wednesday night that grief counselors will be available at locations across the area for students, staff and families.

A prayer vigil will be held on Thursday at 2:35 p.m. at Pine Trails Park. All are invited to attend. 

Another vigil is being held at noon on Thursday at the Parkridge Church. 

The FBI is asking the public for information related to the shooting. Anyone with information on this incident can submit it directly to the FBI by clicking here.

Check back with NBC 6 for updates.

Broward Sheriff Scott Israel discusses the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
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