A Florida sheriff told the hundreds gathered for an emotional vigil for the high school shooting victims that their local politicians had to work towards tougher gun controls if they wanted to get re-elected.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, who has been overseeing the investigation into the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, pledged to the grieving crowd that ‘we will introduce common sense gun laws that make our streets safer.’
He also had a message for any politicians who were not ready to back the push for tighter gun controls in the wake of the tragedy.
‘If you’re an elected official and…you want to keep the gun laws as they are now, you will not get re-elected in Broward County,’ said Israel to loud cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, who has been overseeing the investigation into the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, pledged to the grieving crowd that ‘we will introduce common sense gun laws that make our streets safer’
Many in the crowd began chanting ‘No more guns! No more guns!’ while held up signs calling for gun controls, including one which read ‘Kids don’t need guns. No guns under 21.’
Israel, who was one of many speakers who took the stage at the heart breaking vigil for the shooting victims on Thursday, has made his position on gun control abundantly clear. Earlier that day, he told reporters he believes that people being treated for mental illnesses shouldn’t be allowed to purchase firearms.
He also appeared on MSNBC where he appealed to politicians to put the lives of children first.
‘I’ve spent a lifetime in law enforcement protecting peoples’ rights, but at the end of the day the rights of our children must be first and foremost,’ he said. ‘And lawmakers gotta change the way they do things. The same ol’, same ol’ just ain’t working.’
The father of a 14-year-old girl killed in the Florida high school massacre also took the stage to pay tribute to his ‘baby girl’ Jaime Guttenberg.
‘She was supposed to be safe. My job is to protect my children and I sent my kid to school,’ her devastated father Fred told the crowd, saying his heart was broken as a result of the senseless shooting massacre.
Dressed in the school’s colors, some held flowers while others wielded signs asking for action to fight school violence, including gun control
More than a thousand people attended a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida
It was a deeply emotional time for the many students who had lost their friends or family members in the attack
Many of the attendees were in tears as the vigil paid tribute to the 17 victims who were killed when Nikolas Cruz opened fire at their school
A young woman is comforted by her friend as she holds a candle at the vigil for the vicitims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on 14 February
People at the Parkland Amphitheater mourn for school shooting victims at a vigilAftermath of the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School
‘What is unfathomable is Jamie took a bullet and is dead. I don’t know what I do next. Don’t tell me there’s no such thing as gun violence. It happened in Parkland.’
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who graduated from Stoneman Douglas High School in 2007, was another speaker, to call for change in the law, and to urge anyone suffering from mental health issues to seek help, and others, to be more understanding.
‘We don’t know who’s hiding their sadness or feelings of guilt and loneliness, or who needs help and is too proud or afraid to ask,’ he added. ‘So we have to be there for each other, we have to cope with our pain, and we have to live each other’s pain.’
More than a thousand people turned out at the candlelit vigil to remember the 14 students and three teenagers gunned down by Nikolas Cruz, 19, on Wednesday.
The vigil began with a moment of silence for those slain at the school and audible sobs rose from the crowd as the names of victims were read. Dressed in the school’s colors, some held flowers while others wielded signs asking for action to fight school violence, including gun control.
Candles still glow after last nights vigil for victims of the mass shooting, dripping off the side of the altar
People left flowers, teddy bears and pictures in memory of the many young teens gunned down on Wednesday
Hundreds of people attended a heartbreaking vigil for the 17 shooting victims in Florida on Thursday night
Hundreds of people held candles on Thursday night as the vigil began with a moment of silence for those slain at the school
Hundreds of high school students were among those to attend the vigil at a park just two miles from the scene of the deadly shooting
Nicholas Dworet, a high school senior, Martin Duque, 14, Meadow Pollack, 18, Cara Loughran, Alaina Petty, 14, Joaquin Oliver, 17, Luke Hoyer, 15, Alyssa Alhadeff, 15, Gina Montalto, 14, Carmen Schentrup, Peter Wang, 15, Alex Schachter, 14, and Helena Ramsey, 17, were also killed on Wednesday, as were track coach Aaron Feis, 37, geography teacher Scott Beigel, 35, and athletic director Chris Hixon, 49.
Fifteen others were injured.
Gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, is in custody and appeared in court on Thursday to be charged with 17 counts of murder.
He has confessed to the massacre, claiming he heard ‘demonic’ voices telling him to kill.
Several of the grieving families of his victims have called for the death penalty.
Meanwhile, the aunt of Jaime Guttenberg, Abbie Youkilis wrote an open letter calling for action – not prayers – to put an end to gun violence. She described Jaime as intelligent and feisty with the world’s best smile. She said she danced with beauty and grace, and ‘probably had been kind to the student who shot her.’
Her emotional letter released Thursday labels politicians who fail to restrict access to guns as complicit, saying they and the National Rifle Association enabled the gunman.
‘My family does not want your hopes and prayers. We want your action. Join us in fighting the NRA. Join us in deposing any politician who cares more about campaign contributions than my beautiful Jaime. Join us in supporting leaders who will bravely fight for our children’s lives,’ Youkilis wrote.
‘This is political and now this is personal. If not now, when? If not us, who? If we don’t finally ACT, the sickness of gun violence will kill us all.’
PICTURED: Fourteen students, geography teacher, coach and athletic director shot dead in Florida high school massacre
Jaime Guttenberg, 14, (left) was described by relatives as a ‘kind-hearted, sweet’ girl. She attended the school with her younger brother who survived and rushed home afterwards. Senior Nicholas Dworet (right) was a gifted swimmer who had his sights set on 2020 Tokyo Olympics success. His devastated college student girlfriend is among those grieving his death. Friends said he was not just a talented athlete, but a ‘good guy’ who will be missed
Martin Duque, 14, (left) was missing for hours on Wednesday and his frantic family desperately appealed for him to get in touch on social media. On Thursday, his older brother Miguel confirmed his death. Martin was a freshman. Meadow Pollack, 18, (right) was preparing for college. Her father was at the school on Wednesday and showed her photograph around in the hope that she would be found alive
Cara Loughran (left) was missing on Wednesday afternoon. Her mother Denise and her father rushed to the designated hotel where parents were told to go to be reunited with their children in the hope that she would be found alive. Her grieving neighbor confirmed her death on Thursday. Alyssa Alhadeff, 15, (right) was eulogized by her mother who said she was a talented soccer player and creative mind. ‘All she had to offer the world was love… I just sent her to school and she was shot and killed,’ she said
Luke Hoyer, 15, (left) was described as a ‘precious’ child by his grandparents who confirmed his death. They found out about the shooting on television. They said he was a ‘good kid’ who ‘never got in trouble’. Joaquin Oliver, 17, (right) was also killed. Joaquin was a Venezuelan immigrant who came to the US with his family for a ‘better future’, they said on Thursday
Gina Montalto, 15, (left) was described as a ‘light and joy’. She and Jaime, another victim, volunteered at a local project called The Friendship Initiative where they acted as buddies for children with special needs. Gina’s mother Jennifer shared pleas to find her on social media on Wednesday. Alaina Petty, 14, (right) was also killed. Her Mormon church confirmed her death, saying she was a ‘valiant’ member
Carmen Schentrup, 16, (left) was also killed in the shooting. Carmen was a gifted student who last year was named as a semifinalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. It includes students who score above average in their SATs or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. ROTC student Peter Wang, 15, (right) also died. His parents speak little English and relied on their neighbor to post social media appeals looking for him. They went to the Marriott hotel with other parents to wait for news of him on Wednesday night and have since confirmed that he was among those killed
Alex Schachter, 14, (left) was also killed. His mother died when he was a child and he attended the school in Florida with his brother, who survived. The teenager’s father Max said he was a ‘sweetheart of a child’ who ‘just wanted to do well and please his parents’. Helena Ramsey, 17, (right) was described by relatives as a ‘reserved’ and studious girl who was due to go to college next year
Geography Scott Beigel, 35, (left) was shot dead as he tried to lock the door of his classroom again after letting a group of fleeing students in to hide. They were running away from the gunman. Aaron Feis, 37, (right) died acting as a human shield. The track coach had thrown himself on top of the kids to stop the bullets from hitting him. He was a former student and was also a security guard at the school where he had worked for eight years
Athletic director Chris Hixon, 49, was also killed shielding students
Students and family members attend a candlelight vigil on Thursday night for victims of the mass shooting
Two people comfort each other as they sit and mourn at one of seventeen crosses after the massacre
Audible sobs rose from the crowd as the names of victims were read at the candlelit vigil
Gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, is shown above appearing in court on Thursday afternoon to be charged with 17 counts of murder
Band member Alex Schachter, 14, was also killed.
His father Max told The New York Times on Thursday that he was an enthusiastic trombone player and a ‘sweetheart of a kid.’ ‘He just wanted to do well and make his parents happy,’ he said. Alex’s brother survived the shooting
‘You went out of your way to make everyone feel good and that smile… that smile lit up every single room you walked into.’
Jaime was a volunteer at The Friendship Initiative, a local project where she acted as a ‘buddy’ for special needs children.
Nicholas Dworet is the other student who was confirmed dead on Thursday.
Cruz, 19, is a former student of the school and students said they feared he would carry out such an attack
His swimming coach confirmed his death and said he had a bright future ahead of him.
Friends described him as a ‘fine young man’.
TS Aquatics said in a post about his death: ‘He was not only a good swimmer but a good person.
‘A happy young man who embodied the values of our program.
‘Nick, you have touched every member of the team one way or another and will be missed.’
Dworet was preparing to go to the University of Indianapolis where he had won an academic scholarship.
He had hopes of attending the 2020 Olympics to represent his country in the swim team and was in a long-term relationship with a college student in Florida.
Alaina Petty and another girl who was injured but not killed belong to the same church.
Alyssa’s mother shared the news of her death on social media.
‘My Daughter Alyssa was killed today by a horrific act of violence. I just sent her to school and she was shot and killed.
‘Alyssa was a talented soccer player, so smart, an amazing personality, incredible creative writer, and all she had to offer the world was love.
‘She believed in people for being so honest.
‘A knife is stabbed in my heart. I wish I could of taken those bullets for you. I will always love you and your memory will live on forever. Please kiss your children, tell them you love them, stand by them no matter what they want to be.
‘To Alyssa’s Friends honor Alyssa by doing something fabulous in your life. Don’t ever give up and inspire for greatness. Live for Alyssa! Be her voice and breathe for her. Alyssa loved you all forever!’ she said.
Three heroic male teachers also died shielding students from the bullets.
They are athletic director Chris Hixon, coach Aaron Feis and geography teacher Scott Beigel.
Cruz, 19, stormed Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Wednesday afternoon armed with an assault rifle.
As well as the 17 confirmed dead, at least 15 were injured.
Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said Cruz was a former student at the school but had been expelled for unknown ‘disciplinary reasons’ last year.
Cruz was armed with at least one AR-15 rifle and had ‘multiple magazines’ when he stormed the school wearing a gas mask, according to the sheriff.
Investigators are now looking into whether Cruz may have pulled the fire alarm to draw people into halls so he could get a higher death toll.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by the city to benefit the victims. To donate to it, click here.
It has so far reached almost $800,000.
The money will be used to pay for the victims’ funeral expenses and survivors’ counseling.
As survivors grapple with the tragedy, questions turned to whether officials could have prevented the shooting which is the deadliest of its kind since Sandy Hook.
There were emotional scenes at a prayer vigil in Parkland on Thursday where mourners wore the school football team’s t-shirt
A woman cries at a vigil for the victims at Parkland Baptist Church shooting on Thursday
Two mourners console one another at the church vigil in Parkland on Thursday
Other students flocked to the Parkland Baptist Church for support and to grieve
Other brave survivors at the baptist church where a vigil was held on Thursday
There was an enormous media presence outside the school on Thursday as lawmakers addressed the tragedy
Tyra Hemans, a senior at the school, brought protest signs calling for stricter gun laws
Florida gunman Nikolas Cruz’s arrest affidavit
The complaint affidavit against Nikolas Jacob Cruz reveals he has been charged with 17 counts of pre-meditated murder and confirms both of his parents are dead.
The documents say that at 2.23pm on February 14, multiple 911 calls were received of a shooting taking place at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Cruz’s height is give as 5’87, his weight as 128 lbs and birthplace United States of America.
The affidavit outlines the chain of events that happened during the Marjory Stoneham Douglas High School massacre
According to the document, Cruz was first spotted by an unnamed witness after arriving by Uber
Both of Cruz’s parents are deceased and he is living with a family, who give him his own room
The affidavit states that Cruz admitted being the shooter and that he planned to blend in with crowd after carrying out the killings
Cruz was charged with a total of 17 counts of premeditated murder relating to the shootings
Cruz made his first court appearance accompanied by a public defender
‘Multiple deceased persons were observed at the scene,’ read the affidavit, which continues that ‘the shooter attempted to blend in with fleeing students and was able to elude arriving officers’.
A sworn statement from a witness, whose name was redacted, said he recognized Cruz as a ‘troubled former student’ who arrived in a ‘small goldish colored vehicle’
The witness stated Cruz was wearing a maroon shirt, black pants and a black hat and was carrying a black duffel bag and black backpack. He was walking ‘purposefully’ towards school buildings the witness said.
‘Within a minute he heard gunshots and called a “Code Red” indicating an emergency on campus,’ the affidavit reads.
According to the affidavit, both Cruz’s parents are deceased and he was staying with a family who have given him his own room in their house.
‘Cruz stated that he was the gunman and entered the school campus armed with an AR-15 and began shooting students that he saw on the hallways and on the school grounds’.
‘Cruz admitted that as students began to flee on foot he decided to plan to discard the AR-15 and vest with additional magazines so he could blend in with the crowd.’
FBI agents are investigating a post left on a YouTube comment which was reported to police in September. It was written by someone of the same name who said: ‘I’m going to be a professional school shooter.’
Cruz’s disturbed mental state is also now being laid bare.
The teenager was a former student of the school and had been previously expelled.
His mental condition is said to have deteriorated over the last year following the death of his adoptive mother who died of the flu.
He was ‘obsessed’ with guns, according to other students who knew him at Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Some have said they predicted that he would carry out such a massacre and that no one was surprised when, as yesterday’s horror unfolded, he was revealed to be responsible for it.
Cruz remains in county jail. He has been charged with 17 counts of murder and is due to appear in court on Thursday afternoon.
On Thursday, it was alleged he was also part of a white nationalist group.
He had been fighting recently with his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend and experts have suggested he may also be suffering from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, a congenital condition which causes development and behavioral issues, low IQ and poor reasoning and judgment skills.
He was adopted at birth and was raised by Lynda Cruz and her husband along with his biological brother Zachary.
Lynda died of pneumonia last year and her husband died in 2004, making Nikolas and his brother orphaned.
Until Wednesday’s shooting, Nikolas had been staying with family friends in a trailer where there were shooting targets set up in the backyard.
The father in that family normally drove him to school but said he told them he did not want to go on Wednesday because it was Valentine’s Day.
An official GoFundMe account has been set up to raise money to ‘provide relief and financial support to the victims and families of the horrific shooting.’
Cause for concern: ‘I’m going to be a professional school shooter.’ wrote Cruz on a video that had been shared by YouTube vlogger Ben Bennight (Cruz’s comment above)
Bennight alerted the FBI to a comment shared by Cruz on one of his videos in September; Bennight revealed that the FBI was quick to respond, arriving at his office the next day to find out if he knew anything. That was after he called a local field agent, revealing that his initial attempts to send in a screengrab of the comment failed when the email address he found listed on the agency’s website came back with a domain error saying that it did not exist
Holiday in hell: At the same time, Cruz was posting multiple images of himself holding guns and wearing facemasks to his Instagram page (Cruz’s Instagram page above)
Pictured above is the mobile home where Cruz had been staying before moving in with a friend’s family before the shooting
In the backyard of the home, beer cans and plates were set up as shooting targets
The backyard of the home on Easter Cay Way is littered with garden furniture and toys. Eerily, a Hot Wheels toy in a container is still beeping. A tan Kia Soul stands in the driveway