It is now clear that Nicolas Cruz, who was armed with an AR-15 and killed 17 at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, was suffering from mental illness.
The shooting is the second deadliest event in U.S. history behind the Sandy Hook Elementary school where 22 children were killed.
Cruz was kicked out of the school for bringing weapons to school, but prior to attending Stoneman Douglas, he attended a high school specifically for mentally challenged kids.
Cruz was taken to North Broward Medical Center after the shooting, but then was released and taken into custody by the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).
Students referred to Cruz as “psycho” and someone that was “very strange.”
Many of Florida’s elected officials have already posted statements regarding the shooting, including Senators Marco Rubio (R) and Bill Nelson (D).
“A mass shooting at one of Florida’s schools is a day you pray will never come. Jeanette and I are devastated and saddened by today’s inexplicable tragedy at Broward County’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. We join millions of Americans in praying for the victims, their families and all the students and teachers impacted by today’s events. We are grateful to the emergency responders, law enforcement officials, nurses and doctors who assisted the victims of today’s tragedy. Over the next few hours and days we will learn more about why and how this killer carried out this carnage. My office and I remain ready to assist state and local officials and anyone impacted by this horrible tragedy.”-Sen. Marco Rubio (R)
