Multi-casualty Incident at Florida High School

Multiple Dead; Shooter in Custody Following Incident at Florida High School

The 19-year-old shooter is now in custody.

 [UPDATE: February 14, 2018 8:30 PM]

A 19-year-old male ambushed his former high school with an assault rifle on Wednesday, killing 17 people and injuring over a dozen more in the deadliest shooting on an American school in 2018. 

Officials confirmed the alleged shooter was Nikolas Cruz, a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Local news stations reported Cruz had been expelled from the school late last year as he had become a threat to those around him. Students told reporters he had not been able to bring a backpack to school in his last few weeks as a student.

Broward Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that Cruz had shot and killed 17 people with an AR-15 style firearm. A dozen people were found dead inside the school, two outside the school's building and a third person was found dead on the street near the campus. Two more people succumbed to their wounds at the hospital.

Reports of shots fired were received by police shortly before 3 p.m. local time. Witnesses told reporters that the fire alarm had been triggered and students began to flood the hallways marking their way to designated "evacuation zones" when the gunfire rang out. Student said they heard two to three shots at first, unable to place the sound, before they heard upwards of 40 more gunshots in the classrooms around them.

A Snapchat video of the incident showed student huddled in the corner of a classroom, under desks, while six to 10 gunshots fired off in the next classroom.

A heavy police response followed, FBI and SWAT team members could be seen on the scene within 30 minutes of the first call to 911. Students were placed on lockdown in "Code Red" as police started the intense manhunt for Cruz. 

Nearly an hour and a half after gunfire rang out police in the next town over, less than a mile from the campus took Cruz into custody. He was searched and placed into a police cruiser for a short period of time before he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital for a leg injury.

Doctors at local hospitals told reporters that all of the victims transported to their facilities suffered gunshot wounds. Three were in critical condition.

This is the 18th instance of gun violence on an American middle or high school in 2018. Three weeks ago two students were killed and 18 more were injured when a student open fired on students at Marshall County High School in Kentucky. 

[UPDATE: February 14, 2018 3:30 PM]

Broward Sheriff has tweeted that the shooter in the Parkland, Florida school shooting is now in custody an hour and a half after reports of shots fired at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Local news reports say the shooter was a former student of the high school and the shooting happened in the school's freshman building.

The amount of people injured in the incident is still unknown, but local news stations have said at least four people have been admitted to a local hospital. Senator Bill Nelson told CBS News that there are multiple fatalities in the shooting.

Hundreds of police, FBI and members of SWAT responded to the scene on Wednesday. The school's website says there are nearly 3,000 students enrolled at the school.

Original story below.

Authorities are responding to reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. The situation is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

The Broward Sheriff's Office said there are reports of victims. At least 20 people have been injured, a local fire department told CBS Miami. Students are streaming out of the school, but law enforcement says there are still numerous students still hiding in inside school closets.

The shooter is still at large, the sheriff's office said via Twitter. Law enforcement is going from room to room to neutralize the shooter.

The White House said President Trump has been briefed on the shooting and is monitoring the situation.

Students at the school were being evacuated to West Glades Middle School Wednesday afternoon

Emergency workers at the scene of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Coral Springs, Florida, Feb. 14, 2018.

SWAT teams were seen entering the campus with canines. A number of people could be seen being loaded into ambulances on a stretcher, reports CBS Miami. Students were seen being led across the street with their hands over their heads.

Officers asked people to avoid the area. The Coral Springs Police Department told teachers and students to remain barricaded inside until police reach them.

CBS Miami's Rick Folbaum was speaking over text message with a student at the school who is hiding in a closet.

"All of a sudden there was a really loud noise…..people are crying the closet," the student wrote to him.

This is a developing story and will be updated. 

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.