The Broward Sheriff office confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School near Parkland, Florida early on Wednesday afternoon where there were reports of an unknown number of victims and a shooter still at large.
The Miami Herald reported around 4 p.m. on Wednesday that Margate Fire Chief Dan Booker confirmed his department was responding to a mass casualty incident with at least one death and more than 14 injured. Although he said he couldn’t confirm how many were shot and how many were injured or killed. CNBC reported that a suspect, reportedly a man wearing a burgundy shirt, was taken into custody by authorities shortly before 4 p.m. The Miami Herald reported that the suspect had been identified as former student, 19-year-old Nicolas de Jesus Cruz.
Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida also said there were “a number of fatalities” in an interview with MSNBC Wednesday afternoon.
According to reports from the Sun-Sentinel, a spokesperson for the Broward School District said that staff and students were alerted to a “code red” lock down around dismissal time (2:40 p.m.) after gun shots were heard.
Coral Springs police also tweeted that the area surrounding the school was locked down and discouraged people from attempting to get to the school.
#BSO is working a developing incident regarding a report of active shooter located at 5901 Pine Island Rd, Parkland. Here’s what we know so far: deputies are responding to reports of a shooting at Stoneman Douglas High. There are reports of victims. PIO will be on scene 3:15pm.
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
AVOID THE AREA – Do not attempt to get to the school this perimeter is LOCKED down. https://t.co/sNtQqZYojL
— Coral Springs Police (@CoralSpringsPD) February 14, 2018
Still locked in. I checked the local news and there is 20 victims. Long live Majory Stoneman Douglas High. pic.twitter.com/4kQMAlCBWt
— Aj22000 (@TheCaptainAidan) February 14, 2018
Both Governor Rick Scott and President Donald Trump tweeted out prayers and condolences in response to the shooting:
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.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2018
Just spoke with @POTUS about shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. My thoughts and prayers are with the students, their families and the entire community. We will continue to receive briefings from law enforcement and issue updates.
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) February 14, 2018
According to CNN affiliate WSVN, students at Stoneman thought that the gunshots were initially part of a prank or that it was part of a fire drill.
“We all thought it was a fire drill because we had one previously today,” one student told WSVN “And we thought it was so no one was that nervous, but then word started going around that it was shots and not just like something else, everyone just started running towards the canal.”
Gun safety advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety cited this as the 18th school shooting in 2018 alone in a tweet Wednesday afternoon. That number has since been disputed as it includes incidents of guns going off on school premises without injury.
Update 4:35 p.m. EST: The Broward Sheriff’s office tweeted that there were “at least 14 victims” who were being treated at Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health North hospital.
So far we have at least 14 victims. Victims have been and continue to be transported to Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health North hospital. #StonemanShooting
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
The Sheriff’s office also said via Twitter that “The shooter was not a current student.”
Her Campus will continue to update this story as more develops.