17 Dead In Florida High School Shooting

02.15.18
17 Dead In Florida High School Shooting

The numbers associated with the Parkland, Florida school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are heartbreaking.

17. The number of deaths so far.

19. The age of the shooter, a former student who was expelled for disciplinary reasons.

18. The number of school shootings so far in 2018, even though it’s only mid-February.

The massacre occurred shortly before the end of the school day. The shooter reportedly pulled the fire alarm in order to try to draw students out of their classrooms. After he began firing, the school went on lockdown, with some students and teachers barricading themselves in classrooms and others running for cover. The shooter had an AR-15 rifle and “countless” magazines of ammunition, according to Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel. The shooter was apprehended by police officers shortly after 3 p.m., and will face 17 counts of premeditated murder.

Students took to social media and texted their families while the school remained on lockdown. Those images and videos quickly spread. Warning: the second video contains graphic audio, including the sound of screaming and gunshots.

 

Students and adults alike expressed sadness, fatigue, and anger at the frequent occurrence of school shootings in the U.S. today.

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