Seventeen killed in South Florida high school shooting

Seventeen people were shot to death and many others wounded  at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in a horrific episode of school violence that ended with the arrest of a former student. Panicked parents streamed to this affluent section of northwest Broward County, as news helicopters broadcast the incident live, police officers crouched behind cars with guns drawn and students congregated on streets, many crying, hugging and calling friends and family.

Sheriff Scott Israel said 17 people were killed, including both students and adults, with two shot outside the school, one in the street, 12 inside the school and two dying from their wounds at the hospital.

The suspect was identified as Nikolas Cruz, 19, who had been expelled from the school. He used an AR-15 rifle and had multiple magazines, the sheriff said. Investigators have begun analyzing Cruz’s social media accounts, which the sheriff said contained material that was “very, very disturbing.”

Cruz was taken into custody off campus without incident, he said. Wearing a red shirt, black pants and black boots, Cruz was seen being placed on a gurney. At 4:47 p.m. he was seen being wheeled into Broward Health North hospital in Deerfield Beach. Later he was taken from the hospital to Broward Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Fort Lauderdale.