A gunman set off fire alarms at a Florida high school Wednesday afternoon, luring hundreds of students out of their classrooms so he could open fire with a semi-automatic AR-15 assault rifle.
After firing several rounds, the shooting suspect, identified as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, dropped his weapon and hid among the crowd as authorities evacuated students and faculty members from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Police captured Cruz over an hour later in Coral Springs, located about a mile away. He was taken to a local hospital and then released into police custody.
At least 17 people were killed and several others were wounded in the shooting, officials said. Cruz was charged Thursday with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
Below is a timeline of events that detail how the shooting unfolded.
Wednesday, Feb. 14
2:19 p.m.
An Uber car dropped off Cruz at the school at approximately 2:19 P.M., Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel revealed at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
“The suspect entered the east stairwell, that’s building 12, with a rifle inside a black soft case,” he said. “The suspect exited the stairwell [and] pulled the rifle out of the case.”
2:21 p.m.
Cruz, according to Israel, then “readied his rifle and began shooting into rooms 1215, 1216, 1214. He went back to 1216, back to 1215 and then to 1213.”
Cruz, he revealed, “took the west stairwell to the second floor,” where he shot one person in room 1234.
Israel said Cruz “took the east stairwell to the third floor. He dropped his rifle and backpack [and] ran down the stairs.”
At some point after 2:21 p.m., Cruz exited the building with others who were fleeing on foot and ran towards the tennis courts and then took a southbound turn.
After the shooting, Cruz went to a Walmart and purchased a drink at a Subway before leaving the Walmart, according to Israel, though he couldn’t give an exact time this occurred. Cruz then headed to a McDonald’s and “sat down for a short period of time.”
2:35 p.m.
Students were allegedly texting about a shooter at the school.
all hell is breaking loose at Douglas high school @Coralspringsfla kids texting about a shooter ???? pic.twitter.com/7NnoipVJpy
— Grumpyhaus (@Grumpyhaus) February 14, 2018
2:53 p.m.
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a tweet.
#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
2:55 p.m.
WSVN, a local news station, reported that there were at least five people injured at the school.
Appears there are at least 5 people injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Coral Springs after reports of shooting. People hurt — on stretchers. Lots of police and ambulances. @wsvn
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) February 14, 2018
2:56 p.m.
The sheriff’s office warned the public to “avoid the area of Stoneman Douglas HS” as authorities investigated reports of an active shooter.
Avoid the area of Stoneman Douglas HS. #BSO is currently working a developing incident regarding a report of active shooter.
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
3:01 p.m.
Cruz left McDonald’s at exactly 3:01 p.m., according to Israel.
3:10 p.m.
A student shared a photo to Twitter to show where he and other students were hiding.
Still locked in. I checked the local news and there is 20 victims. Long live Majory Stoneman Douglas High. pic.twitter.com/4kQMAlCBWt
— Aidan Minoff (@TheCaptainAidan) February 14, 2018
3:11 p.m.
The sheriff’s office tweeted the shooter was still at large.
Follow @browardsheriff for latest info on the #stonemanshooting. Shooter still at large.
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
3:36 p.m.
Broward Schools said the school was on lockdown after students and faculty heard what sounded like gunfire.
Today, close to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s dismissal, students and staff heard what sounded like gunfire. The school immediately went on lockdown but is now dismissing students. We are receiving reports of possible multiple injuries. Law enforcement is on site.
— Broward Schools (@browardschools) February 14, 2018
3:40 p.m.
Broward Schools began dismissing students from the school.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is now dismissing students. We are receiving reports of possible multiple injuries. Law enforcement and the District’s Special Investigative Unit are currently on site. The District will provide updates as more information becomes available.
— Broward Schools (@browardschools) February 14, 2018
“We are receiving reports of possible multiple injuries,” the school district tweeted. “Law enforcement and the District’s Special Investigative Unit are currently on site.”
3:41 p.m.
A Coconut Creek police officer detained Cruz in Coral Springs, located about a mile away from the school, and he was “taken into custody without incident,” Israel said.
3:50 p.m.
President Trump tweets about the shooting, offering his “prayers and condolences.”
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
4:11 p.m.
The shooter was taken into custody, the sheriff’s office confirmed in a tweet, warning that the scene was still active.
Shooter is now in custody. Scene is still active. #stonemanshooting
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
4:22 p.m.
The sheriff’s office tweeted there were at least 14 “victims,” who “have been and continue to be transported to 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
4:27 p.m.
The suspected shooter was taken to a local hospital.
Photo: Suspect is loaded into fire rescue to be transported to hospital pic.twitter.com/SP0rJg5tY5
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) February 14, 2018
4:50 p.m.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson said there were “a number of fatalities.”
Our worst fears are being realized. It looks like it’s a number of fatalities. Praying for all those students, families and school members affected at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) February 14, 2018
4:59 p.m.
Israel confirmed the shooter was not a current student at Stoneman Douglas High School.
Sheriff Israel, "The shooter was not a current student."
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
In a separate tweet, the sheriff’s office said that SWAT teams were still clearing the school.
SWAT still clearing the school #stonemanshooting.
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
5:39 p.m.
Students began to reunite with their parents.
Parents and families of Westglades Middle School can now pick-up students at the school. Pine Island Road has been blocked by law enforcement. Parents should enter from Coral Ridge Drive via Holmberg Road.
— Broward Schools (@browardschools) February 14, 2018
6:27 p.m.
Sheriff Israel said 17 people were killed in the shooting.
"I'm saddened to say that 17 people lost their lives."- Sheriff Scott Israel #stonemanshooting
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
6:29 p.m.
The sheriff’s office identified the shooting suspect as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz.
Suspect Nikolaus Cruz, 19, is in custody. #stonemandouglasshooting
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
8:24 p.m.
A local news reporter for WSVN tweeted a photo of the suspect being detained by police.
#BREAKING: Extremely clear picture of suspect captured by police @wsvn pic.twitter.com/v4AiyIFFs1
— Franklin White (@FranklinWSVN) February 15, 2018
Thursday, Feb. 15
7:12 a.m.
Trump urges the public to always report suspicious behavior to authorities.
“So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem,” Trump tweeted. “Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!”
So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2018
10:49 a.m.
Cruz was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, Israel announced in a news conference.
"Suspect has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder."-Sheriff Scott Israel.
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 15, 2018
11:22 a.m.
Trump addressed the nation, describing the incident as a “scene of terrible violence, hatred, and evil.”
He vowed to work with state and local leaders to help “secure our schools and tackle the difficult issue of mental health.”
2:00 p.m.
Cruz appeared in court on 17 counts of murder. The judge ordered him to be held without bond.
4:43 p.m.
Cruz confessed to arriving at the high school with an AR-15 rifle and a back pack of “additional loaded magazines” and told authorities he shot “students that he saw in the hallways and on school grounds,” according to an arrest affidavit filed Thursday evening.
