he claims he saw suspect nikolaus cruz loading his gun in the hallway but instead of killing him, nikolausruz a total stranger told him he had better get out of here, things are going to start getting messy. he ran away and found assistant football coach saying i told him i saw a gun, let me check it out and he drove me to the baseball field, dropped me off and went back to the school and that is the last i saw of him. there is another survivor describing to fox news the terrifying moment in a school hallway, gunshots ringing out when another student, begging to be let inside a locked classroom. >> please let me in. the most heartbreaking because you couldn't let him in, couldn't help him. unfortunately passed away. heather: don't know how you get over that. haley betancourt and her class barricaded themselves in the classroom during that rampage. hiding from the gunshots, history repeating itself, one family in florida, tweeting this is my grandpa when he was 12 years old. he hid in a closet while his family was murdered during the first mass shooting in america 70 years later, i also hid

rob: the gunmen identified as nikolaus cruz, 19-year-old wearing a gas mask, armed with an ar 15 semi automatic rifle and smoke grenades. he would end up killing 17 people. jillian: the latest on the investigation is police dig into his chilling social media posts in search of a motive. "fox and friends" first continues right now. rob: welcome to "fox and friends" first. jillian: we are starting on a sad note. more than a dozen people murdered in cold blood at a florida high school and we are learning more about the gunmen's past and possible warning signs. rob: so much to get to. we have a team of reporters on this including one outside the school. to recap some of the information, 17 people killed, a number of people wounded. this is a suburb of the fort lauderdale area in broward county, to the west, a very affluent neighborhood where people come to raise a family, safe neighborhood, you trust your kids come to school and come home safe, large high school in a big school district, a school that held 3000 people, students running out trying to run for their lives from a man armed wi

>> are you nikolaus jacob cruz? >> yes, ma'am. >> reporter: 19-year-old nikolaus cruz is facing 17 counts of premeditated >> mr. cruz, you're going to be held without bond until further order of the court. >> reporter: the gunman opened fire at the high school in parkland, florida. terrified students, hiding in classrooms, behind desks. >> i feel like i'm in a dream, like i don't believe this is real. there's no way to describe what happened. >> reporter: white ma . >> why male, burgundy shirt, he's wearing white pants or shorts. he mixed in with a group of students that were westbound. >> training kicked in, i pulled my vehicle over immediately, engaged the suspect. >> reporter: authorities are now learning more about the suspect described as a loaner and crazy by neighbors and other students. >> he was always what he was. he was always weird, like violent and aggressive. >> we are looking into his social media posts, his movements, his conversations leading up to the shooting. >> reporter: some families left in ab

police are still going through the school right now outside of the suspected shooter nikolaus cruz is of the hospital and in police custody. investigator a gas mask armed with an ar-15 rival other weapons whe afterno. fox 29's chris o'connell is on top of this breaking news live no chris? >> reporter: lucy, simply put, this was a valmatissacre. the death toll as you said tonight standsmo than a dozen others still injured tonight in the hospital know 19-year-old former student with a troubled past is now acc worsl shootings in u.s. history. >> no parentr have to send their kids to school and have them return. >> second floor he may have a gas mask on now. >> repor the gunshots started outside of marjorie school in bd county, florida. >> there's lost blood. people were said in the halls. >> reporter: students first thought it was valentine's day . >> saddened to say 17 people lost their lives. >> reporter: chaos lasting for two hours. students and running from their school. others locked down in classroo e halls. after a fire drill earlier in the day, that alarmai as studene hallways wo

it is a problem that does not have a solution for nikolaus cruz obtained his legally. even though there were several red flags about his behavior in recent months. so the question now, what can be done? the spring in our panel, jessica deloach, shawn steel republican national committee men for california. thank you for joining us. at the top of mind, walker's clear mind at this entire tragedy and what congress cannot do?>> it is so frustrating. i watch -- go ahead jessica. a democrat from arkansas always has my respect. >> very sweet, thank you. i want to say that the public cannot and will not continue to stay on this continued preventable and has been a breakdown in information being cast along from government agencies to other people who can make our schools safer. i get that. but guess what? immunized is, people accused of domestic violence can still obtain firearms. half of all women who are killed each year are killed by romantic partners. this guy, who perpetrated this mass murder is a person who was expelled from the school because of his behavior toward an ex-

>> yes, ma'am. >> reporter: 19-year-old nikolaus cruz, 5'7" and 131 pounds faced a florida magistrate this afternoon, 24 hours after allegedly shooting and killing 17 boys, girls and faculty at the high school that expelled him last year. cruz is charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and will remain held in broward county custody. >> you're going to be held, no bond. >> reporter: unlike other mass shooters who took their own lives, investigators say cruz tried to escape, putting down his assault rifle and blending in with fleeing students from marjory stoneman douglas high school. inside the high school, heavily armed s.w.a.t. teams, police and deputies cleared out each classroom, one by one, rescuing terrified students and teachers who had barricaded themselves in hidden closets. >> today's not any easier than yesterday was. all the victims' families have been notified. >> reporter: thursday morning's update, the fbi confirmed it had been alerted to the suspect four months ago from this youtube post, who claims someone with the same name as the suspect said, quote, i'm going

police have identified the gunman 19-year-old nikolaus cruz many authorities say he first opened firet before school was let out. he then walk into the building and pulled the fire alarm before shooting a dozen students and adults two the ohs were killed outside. one died on the street. two more died at the hospital. officers caught up witness nina old suspect about an hour after he left the scene. fox 29's chris o'connell is on top of all this breaking news and joins us live in our operations center tonight. chris? >> reporter: iain, an act act of pure evil that is how florida's governor is describing today's mass shooting in broward county. now one of the deadliest school shootings ever. >> no parent should ever have to send their kids to school and have them not return. went from the third floor to the second floor. third to the second floor. he may have a gas mask on now. >> reporter: it was near dismissal time when the gunshots start outside of marjorie stoneman douglas high school. >> there's a lot of blood. people were dead in the halls. report roar students first thought it wa

investigators say 19-year-old nikolaus cruz arrived at the high school at an uber.nd after the shooting, cruz went to a subway, a walmart and a mcdonald's. >> records show the ar-15 used in the attack was purchased last year legally. >> reporter: the former student suspected of gunning down 17 people and injuring 15 others stepped into court for the first time this afternoon. >> are you nikolaus jacob cruz? >> yes, ma'am. >> reporter: 19-year-old nikolaus cruz is facing 17 counts of premeditated >> mr. cruz, you're going to be held without bond until further order of the court. >> reporter: the gunman opened fire at the high school in parkland, florida. terrified students, hiding in classrooms, behind desks. >> i feel like i'm in a dream, like i don't believe this is real. there's no way to describe what happened. >> reporter: white ma . >> why male, burgundy shirt, he's wearing white pants or shorts. he mixed in with a group of students that were westbound. >> training kicked in, i pulled my vehicle over

his name, nikolaus cruz. just 19 years old.er student at marjory stoneman douglas high school. tonight, david, many current students in the hospital undergoing surgery. david? >> victor oquendo, thank you. thank you for watching. our coverage continues on "nightline" and first thing on "gma" in the morning. i'm david muir. i hope to see you right back here tomorrow night. sorry about this valentine's day, but we wish you well. good night. >>> tragedy strikes a school campus. taking 17 lives in florida. a gunman opened fire. >>> mystery solved. what made almost a dozen middle-schoole middle-schoolers sick in san francisco. >>> expanding beyond the north bay fire. the latest in on ongoing "7 on your side" investigation just ahead. >> announcer: live breaking news. >>> police, police. put your hands up. >> will is the moment of relief. s.w.a.t. officers evacuate classroom after classroom of terrified students who endured and survived a deadly school shooting. a number did not, sadly. i am dan ashley. >> and i am kristen sze. >> sh

as for the shooter, nikolaus cruz, a judge has ordered his sealed court records to be released.t reveals allegations nikolaus cruz filled with abuse and neglect, the public has the right to know. >> i don't believe these are confidential and the way it is. >> rick scott demanding the fbi to release details on its failure to act on a tip about nikolaus cruz. our state and nation was learned of the fbi's inexcusable in action after receiving a tip informing them of his desire to carry out a school shooting. the fbi failure to initiate an investigation raises many questions and the victim's families deserve answers now. students want answers from donald trump about what he intends to do about gun violence. he will have a listing session with students on thursday. >> the white house signaling donald trump is open to better background checks. jason chaffetz says that the step in the right direction to making sure this never happens again saying he has supported similar legislation in the past. >> i wish there was one thing we could do to make sure it never happens again but i like th

in court today, 19-year-old nikolaus cruz was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and heldhout bond. he confessed carrying out the carnage, the worst school shooting since sandy hook. the shooting lasted three minutes and when it was done cruz dropped his ammunition and blended in with other students. said one student today when she was able to leave yesterday, she was stepping on shell casing, and there were bodies and blood everywhere. >> the fbi admitted today to investigating an account of nikolaus cruz but they couldn't determine who and where the individual was. christie ileto has been looking into the victims of the rampage. you have some of the heart-wrench stories. >> one victim had just become a u.s. citizen and two others were headed off to college. >> my girl, my 14-year-old baby. >> fred's daughter is one of those murdered at the marjorie douglas high. >> sometimes things get crazy. she runs out, and she's like, i gotta go, dad, bye. i don't always get to say i love you. i don't know if i said that to jamie yesterday morning. >> candle light mourners gathered.

the fbi did not contact nikolaus cruz. we will have that tipster here in a moment. in addition, on january 5, of this year, in other tipster close to nikolaus cruz called the fbi tip line and reported that he owned a gun, wanted to kill people, was exhibiting erratic behavior, posting disturbing things on the internet and warned that he may shoot up a school. the fbi just released a statement. under established protocols, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life. the information then should have been forwarded to the fbi miami field office where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken. we have determined that these protocols were not followed. this is a sickening incompetence by the fbi. the fbi has a very poor track record when it comes to missed signs. hernando knight clenching the fbi investigated the terrorist for 10 months before the attack. but they said he never broke the law so they did not do anything. the boston marathon bombing. the fbi received a tip from the russians that the brothers w

>> chris, thank you. >>> more than details right now coming out a 19-year-old nikolaus cruz.he broward county sheriff scott israel says student was recently expelled for disciplinary reasons. showse was fixated on guns and weapons and did he helping ris in many . >>> social media playing a huge role in events like this one noe frightening moments through the eyes of those students in real time. by a student hiding inside one of the classrooms. the exact moment. students raising their hands. you can see one person so scareg just heartbreaking to watch. this video shows students taking cover inside the school auditorium. eo get down while trying to get them out safely and right now ma still shaken as parents try to find their kids. >> i'm. lining i gist have that image -- the sound of the gunshots in my head. lian itly. >> never imagine it would ever happen to you. very mean i've heard my son's ve but i haven't seen h you my sto. even though i know he's in the th turning turning. >> reporter: during all the chaos parentsti f their families letting them know their okay for many

nikolaus cruz arrested and in police custody. police will hopefully get to the bottom of what sparked his rampage. social media lighting up across the country with support for the florida community. carly shimkus here with how lawmakers and celebrities are reacting next. >> horrifying footage spread online emerging as students were huddled in fear screaming for their lives during this deadly school shooting in florida, many of them taking to social media to document what is happening. carly shimkus with serious xm 115 is here with that and the support pouring in across the country. >> the shooting at douglas high school started at 2:30 eastern time as classes were about to be let out. students were forced to barricade themselves inside classrooms, hide under desks and inside closets. some turned to social media to show the horrifying reality of what was going on inside. freshman student aid in showed students hiding on the grounds. the caption, my school is being shot up and i am locked inside. i am scared right now. another stud

regarding shooter nikolaus cruz, a so monumental that the same rule must apply.he killing of young innocence. teachers and coaches, gunned down in a school.a place that should be a haven in a heartless world, lays the hand relays at the hands of the fbi. and although the shooter pulled the trigger, potential slaughter, twice reported to the fbi, could have been prevented had they bothered to lift a finger. a concerned citizen sees this on youtube quote i want to be a professional school shooter. and that citizen is so alarmed he takes his time to call the fbi. they take the complaint and do nothing! but after 17 killed and 14 wounded, the fbi has the unmitigated gall to buck up to a microphone and say -- >> there was not enough to positively identify the subject. it got closed at that point. >> closed it out saying what? he had no further identifying information?are you not the fbi? there are only 13 nikolaus cruz in this country here to support this lame excuse they trot out messages brief with the fbi talking points. >> the fbi is very limited in what it can do

. >> here's what we know about the shooter, nikolaus cruz was a a a former student and of g ammunition with him. >> many turned to social media as the crisis unfolded. first i want to show you one student's experience. aiden's message began, i am in a dwal sho actual shooting right now. i checked the local news and there are 20 victims. aidan said love each other, you may never know when the last day you see someone. and nat tweeted this video of the massive police response, she tweeted i never thought i would see this in my city. house minority leader nancy pelosi of san francisco tweets, too many families have lost someone to the senseless epidemic of gun violence. and kamala harris tweets, just awful, gut-wrenching news, my heart breaks for the victims and families of the victims. and melania trump tweets, my heart is heavy over the school shooting in florida, keeping all affected in my thoughts and prayers. >> according to a record by cnn, pa pa parkland, florida was named the safest city in florida. now as mentioned, this is the 18th school shooting in 45 days, 18 in 45 days. acco

>> 19 years old, nikolaus cruz is his name. he was viewed by many as somebody who was volatile who, had some preoccupation with guns and-posted that preoccupation online. he was identified by the school last year as being somebody who might be a threat and in fact was expelled from the school last year because he was viewed as a threat. but in many ways, he fits this demographic. he fits this m.o., if you will, of suspects we have seen time and time and time again involved in not only school shootings but mass shootings. in the case of school shootings, too often a white male, a boy, a teenage boy or a 20 something boy who is disenfranchised. the fbi profilers will tell you very often they're disenfranchised cut off for whatever reason from the other students. maybe it's bullying, maybe it's social awkwardness, maybe a relationship they wanted to pursue with some girl that didn't work out. for whatever reason they turn to violence, they turn to dark violence and video games or on the internet. that seems to be what has played o

i feel horrible for those families and nikolaus cruz feels that pain. >> it is a terrible, horrendous crime this young man is charged with and the fbi had a warning about this through you comments left by this young man months ago saying he was a school shooter in training and a lot of questions about what the school knew. this young man was not allowed on campus with a backpack, he had been expelled from here. how did he get into the school? these schools are supposed to be fortresses. you are not supposed to just walk into a school anymore. a lot of questions need to be answered. >> donald trump planning to visit florida as soon as the weekend after addressing the nation. in a powerful speech offering support to all americans. >> our entire nation with one heavy heart is praying for the victims and their families. i want you to know that you are never alone and never will be. you have people who care about you, who love you and who will do anything at all to protect you. >> the president saying he is committed to secure our schools and tackle the difficult issue of mental health. lo

ninth apologizing for receiving warnings just five weeks ago from someone close to the suspect, nikolaus cruz. 11 and can specifically commit a school shooting. the fbi failed to forward the morning of the chain so nothing was done about it. [video], 45 to 8000 people grieving gathered for this dramatic candlelight vigil. today, more people returned to see and add to the growing memorial, flowers, candles and 17 angels, each one for each victim. sharing their grief and giving each other love. >> one of my friends, i saw her in the morning and she gave me a valentine that i was not even expecting. hours later when i was in lockdown, i hear that she was shot. and you know, it was agonizing. >> one another. do not have to know the person to go up to them and offer them a hug. it is very important. you will be surprised how somebody is just in need of a hug. >> florida records show as well as the high school shooting suspect, 19-year-old, nikolaus cruz. a former student expelled last year from this high school for disciplinary reasons. aside from the ar 15 assault rifle that he is accused of

rob: an old friend of nicholas -- nikolaus cruz speaking out, we read about his troubled past.a discount to customers but there is a catch. ♪ (whispering) with the capital one venture card, you'll earn unlimited double miles on every purchase, every day. not just airline purchases. think about all the double miles you could be earning. (yelling) holy moly, that's a lot of miles! shh-h-h-h! ( ♪ ) shh! what's in your wallet? man: shh-h-h! you know what's not awesome? gig-speed internet. shh! when only certain people can get it. let's fix that. let's give this guy gig- really? and these kids, and these guys, him, ah. oh hello. that lady, these houses! yes, yes and yes. and don't forget about them. uh huh, sure. still yes! xfinity delivers gig speed to more homes than anyone. now you can get it, too. welcome to the party. rob: remember when nancy pelosi called $1000 bonus is crumbs? >> in terms of the bonus versus the crumbs they are giving to workers to put the schmooze on is so pathetic. this is like giving you a ball of doggie do, put a cherry on top and call it a chocolate sund

the department of children services says nikolaus cruz cut himself several years ago and shared videosnap chat. he had adhd and was prescribed medication he stopped taking. >> in downtown fort lauderdale, parents, students and teachers demanded action for gun laws. they say they won't let up until their demands are met. >> all our government and president can do is send thoughts and prayer, then it's time for victims to be the change that we need to see. >> the students also say it's ridiculous that people with mental health issues have easy access to powerful weapons. we have more on the story at 11:30 in just a moment. much more to come on "action news." former vice president joe biden may be thinking about a run at the white house. >>> also students are dancing the night away at penn state. chat pradelli has a preview. >> hey, walter, coming up you will meet two girls that endured the brutal battle against cancer. >> that and much more when "action news" comes right back. ♪ ♪ this winter in the state with more ski mountains or more of a snow angel, your winter chariot awaits. pickn

a red flag surrounding confessed kill nikolaus cruz. cruz was depressed and cut himself. cruz had plans to go out and buy a gun. a 15-year-old was arrested after threatening to kill people at several schools. the teens posted the threat on instagram and later told authorities it was a joke. how the community is now coping with their grief. >> reporter: the funerals continue sunday for three victims of the mass shootings. credited with saving student's lives. he was shot while trying to lock his door. >>> at the church, by the fwlaeds, a candle was lit for all 17 students and teaches who were murdered. and first responders got a standing ovation. >> we are not going to let the 17 bullets we took take us down. we are going to keep running and leave the rest of the nation behind us. >> reporter: this week trump will discuss school safety. this comes with a march or our lives demonstration. calling out elected leaders. >> we are calling out to them. to tell them now is the time to get on the right side of this. >> reporter: four people remain hospitalized including 15-year-ol

(j.r.)steve, we know that 19 year old nikolaus cruz, the suspected shooter here was expelled last year. classmates say he didn't have many friends and that his mother died in the last few months. i warn you tonight that video and sounds in this story are graphic. nats.that is perhaps the most intense video out there of a shooter opening fire inside a south florida high school.sot act of evilflorida governor rick scott describing wednesday's shooting in parkland florida. authorities say 17 people were killed. many more injured. the suspected shooter is 19 nikolaus cruz who had been expelled last year and is believed to have walked inside the high school wednesday with an assault rifle.sot senator classmates say cruz didn't have many friends. in fact on his instagram page he had posted a photo of a shotgun and a handgun. in others he was covering his face and brandishing long knives. those who knew him say he lived with his mom but she died several months ago and so he moved in with a new family. sotas for the victims.the broward county sheriff talked about one who died and one is still

and i'm like that's not a drillsot ran with my backpack.investigators say this man, 19 year old nikolaus cruz, is the shooter who went into a marjory stoneman douglas high school with an assault rifle and multiple magazines.the shooter wore a gas mask and he had smoke grenadeshe went and set off the firealarm so the kids would come pouring out of the classrooms and into the hall and there the carnage began. kids and teachers alike ran for cover and took cover. twelve people were killed inside, two outside, one in the street, and two died at the hospital. the warnings from students quickly went out to their parents.sot a real code red dad get me asap it's not a drill i hear gunshots we just got a code red notification perhaps the most graphic images and sounds came from a student who was recording what they heard on snapchat.natswednesday night the florida governor and broward county sheriff spoke about some of those killed. sotfootball coach and son of deputy.devastating news for a community recently named florida's safest city. (j.r.) president (j.r.) (j.r.)president trump tweeted this

facing a lot of scrutiny for failing to respond to the tips that they received for confessed gunman, nikolaus. coming out, will have a live report and what measures can be taken to make sure that oversight is not repeated. plus the deadly shooting has reignited duncanville. the president is going to make school safer. coming up, the texas attorney general, ken paxton, and his ideas. that is straight ahead. >> later this month i will be donating with the nations governors and attorney general screen we are making our schools and children safer, that will be top priority. it is not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. we must actually make that difference. e. because i get a safe driving bonus check every six months i'm accident free. and i don't share it with mom! right, mom? righttt. safe driving bonus checks. only from allstate. switching to allstate is worth it. >> questions surround the fbi' mishandling of tips received about the confessed killer in the stoneman douglas high school massacre. the bureau now under scrutiny after admitting it failed

said the broward county sheriff, there are no wor this as police apprehended 19-year-old nikolaus cruzing on the ground and arrested without incident. he was taken to hospital and then to jail. >> they made an appeal to adults everywhere. >> if you are on a website and you knowing, you see something, you see a person with rife wil r weaponry, you owe it to your family and the community to make it a safer nation by calling tonight. >> we have two reports from dann cuellar at upper darby police and christie ileto in the slight satellite center. >> kristi: christie, we'll begi. >> the school says they were not warned about but his online accounts are shuttering. >> we have begun to dissect the social sites he was on. >> the 19-year-old is accused of killing 17 people and injuring 14 others in p north of miami. >> he was on the third floor. he knows the school layout. he's been to the fire drills. authorities say cruz left the school blending in with those trying to escape. >> i don't know how we are alive. >> not far from the carnage, cruz was taken into custody without incident. the 19-y

>> chris,'s been hours since gunman nikolaus cruz terrorize the school. we have an active scene. they're still going through with the bomb squad securing the school. parents are still showing up out here at the school, not all parents have been able to make contact with their loved ones. and we've been speaking with students all afternoon. i'm here with hector navarro. hector, you're a senior, 18 years old. you were there today whether he gunshots rang out. why don't you take me through what happened. >> well, obviously, it started off as a normal day like any other day would. we had a fire drill second period just a normal one. followed procedure. went to our designated zone. we had another one when it came 30 minutes before the bell. obviously we were suspicious. we didn't think anything of it though. then as soon as we were lining up for the fire drill, we heard shots ringing. and it's like something i'll never forget, just hearing those shots on campus. that obviously there shouldn't be shots moo. >> reporter: at this point, you were with about 100 other students and several

the officer never engaged nikolaus cruz during the carnage. >> i saw a deputy arrive, take up a position and never went in. >> four agonizing minutes went by while the deputy waited. 17 students, teachers and coaches were slaughtered. what should have been officer's response? >> went in. addressed the killer. killed the killer. >> sheriff israel is mortified when he thinks about how the security guard might have stopped the killer quickly. >> the families lost their children. we lost coaches. i have been to the funerals. i have been to the homes where they sit and shiver. i have been to the vigils. there are no words. >> the school security cameras were on a 20 minute delay causing confusion but wouldn't have saved lives. the acting fbi director says they are trying to tighten up their procedures after getting two warnings about cruz but didn't track him down. >> there are sirn things that we need to address because there is a threat to the public. president trump is still calling for teachers to be armed. >> you will have this plague stop. >> teacher unions today say they are opposed to

this as police apprehended 19-year-old nikolaus cruz the alleged gunman found lying on the ground andested without incident. he was taken to hospital and then to jail. >> they made an appeal to adults everywhere. >> if you are on a website and you knowing you see something, you see a person with rife wills rifes or weaponry you owe it to your family and the community to make it a safer nation by calling tonight. >> we have two reports from dann cuellar at upper darby police and christie ileto in the slight satellite center. >> kristi: christie we'll begin with you. >> the school says they were not warned about cruz, but his online accounts are shuttering. >> we have begun to dissect the social sites he was on. >> the 19-year-old is accused of killing p 17 people and injuring 14 others in parkland, florida north of miami. >> he was on the third floor. he knows the schoolhe's been to the fire drills. he's prepared to this stuff. >> authorities sayschool blending in with those trying to escape. >> i don't know how we are alive. >> not far from the carnage, cruz was taken into custody wit

today the suspect, 19-year-old nikolaus cruz appeared in court, he has been charged with 17 counts of murder for this killing spree tat a high school in broward county, florida. police say he used an ar-a rifle. and there are parents, teachers and students who are calling for action. >> we need to do something. we need to do something as a society. >> there's no reason that a kid, 19 years old that's been investigated already and not even a year ago, being a i believe to purchase a ar-15. >> it starts with the politicians, i believe it starts with the nra. >> i want us to take action, i don't want this to be just another mass shooting, i want it to be the last mass shooting. >> president trump made a reference to the shooting but did not make a reference to gun laws. house speaker ryan putting any brakes on that kind of talk. >> what you don't do is knee jerk and say let's just take away a citizen's rights. this is not a time to jump to conclusions, right now i think we need to take a breath and collect the facts. >> other lawmakers say we have the facts, let's act. >> how many school

the suspected shooter has been identified as 19-year-old nikolaus cruz, here he is being led into the police station this afternoon. the broward county sheriff says that cruz killed at least 17 people, he blended in with students as they escaped but was eventual caught. >> we have a shooter in custody. he was taken into custody i believe about an hour after he left stonily douglas, after he committed this horrific, homicidal detectable act. >> a family member sells abc news that cruz was adopted. his mother died last year. and he was armed with an ar-15 automatic rifle. >> reporter: gunshots forced students to flee. >> it's insane, it's unnecessary, it's out of the -- there's no words to describe how i feel right now. i was shaking, i was panicking, it was all out panic in that school. >> reporter: students running out with their hands up as emergency crews tended to the injuries on the ground. >> there are numerous fataliti s fatalities, it's a horrific situation. it's just a horrible day for us. >> reporter: the shots started shortly before the end of the school day, students say a

wanted to ask you, i shooter, like in the case of a, florif the shooter is a former student, in nikolaus cruz's case, and he's gone through the same security training, he knows the procedures, he knows what the drills are. how do you protect yourself when the shooter knows what the layout of the school is, and whathe procedures are? >> right. i think that's where the training comes in t try o, you know, you're going to have to address the situation, because it's never going to be the samen coluwas not the same as parkland. all of these were very different. las vegas was a very different shooting for a mass shooting. so it think t being prepared, being ready, what he wa telling the teachers today, and the staff, isthe more you think about this and make changes, the better prepared you are to deal with whatever comes. that ly want to say this, we also need to prevent this, to look for the signs, and there were many in all of these shootings that peopl, miss prevent them in the first place. >> that's the message we've been heari over and over again. jill tucker, thank you. >>> now to mariju

investigators say revealed 19-year-old nikolaus cruz took an uber car to the high school before the shooting. authorities say cruz methodically went from classroom to classroom shooting his victims. >> the gun he used, an automatic rifle he bought legally. cruz had done paramilitary drills. after the massacre, police say cruz went to a wall senator, and went to a mcdonald's. >>> a sea of candles lit up the parkland amphitheater tonight. thousands gathered for a candle light vigil to honor the victim. this is just one of dozens that have been planned to honor the student student victims. >> 17 people were killed in the massacre, those who died include a football coach, the school's athletic director and students including new freshman and seniors who had been looking forward to starting college in the fall. the broward county sheriff paid tribute to them today christopher hickson. my very, very special friend who i'll miss, barron feis. >> the football coach aron feis, final act was throwing himself in front of the gunman's bullet shielding students from the automatic gun fire. >>> school off

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we are learning more meantime about the alleged shooter nikolaus cruz. >> the thing is, i lost my motherays ago. and i am dealing -- >> the broward county sheriff's office says they were called to the alleged shooter's home 23 times. >> related to concerns that this person could shoot up a school. >> tackling three topics, school safety, gun laws and mental health. >> today i am calling for a mandatory public officer in every school. we will require all individuals purchasing firearms to be 21 or older. i want it to be virtually impossible for anyone with mental issues using a gun. >> president trump focused on school safety calling for stronger background checks especially for the mentally ill. >> well, growing number of companies are distancing themselves from the nationl rifle association ending discounts and other membership benefits. >> let us now how you feel. should companies boycott the nra. you can vote on our live poll on abc7news.com go to the website and click a thumbs up and thumbs down. >> we will leave the voting open while we bring in lyanne melendez live in the news room

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police have identified the suspect as former student nikolaus cruz. >> we're in a real code red, dad,l, i hear gunshots. >> reporter: the incident happening at marjorie stillman high school in parkland, florida. >> there are fatalities that are involved, we can't confirm the numbers at this point. >> reporter: students seen first running away from the school, later others evacuating, their arms outstretched. student michael kats was in the school when the shooting began. >> it was like we heard a garbage truck like banging. and then all of a sudden i hear boom, boom, boom. and then i hear screaming everywhere. and we dove underneath our teach teacher's desk. >> reporter: and trained what to do in these events. >> life is precious, anything can happen within seconds and we all have to treat each other with love and kindness because whatever caused this it was cause bd by

the shooter is 19-year-old nikolaus cruz, a former student of douglas high school. current students say cruz was expelled some time last year. as school was letting out today, law enforcement sources say the suspect pulled a school fire alarm shortly after that, witnesses say that they started to hear gunshots. somehow the suspect managed to elude police at the school but was picked up later in nearby coral springs, florida. he was handcuffed and at first loaded into this police cruiser, then taken out and put on a stretcher, before being transported to a hospital. investigators believe he carried out the school shooting alone. but authorities will examine his social media and any electronic devices for clues. some students said that he posted pictures of guns on his instagram account. jeff, a couple other things. the suspect was heavily armed. the sheriff just saying that he had, countless magazines, and was armed with an ar-15-style rifle. that's what he used in that attack. >> we are back in just a moment. growing up, a lot of people judged me because of the way