Less than 24-hours after a lone gunman opened fire at a local high school in south Florida, new details are slowly emerging about the suspect behind the mass shooting; revealing a “deeply disturbing” social media profile and red-flags that were likely missed by authorities.
Investigators believe 19-year old Nikolas Cruz is the lone gunman who shot and killed 17 people at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; injuring many more as he opened fire on the students.
According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Department, Cruz was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and multiple magazines. He was also carrying a gas mask and dozens of smoke grenades.
Cruz intentionally set off the school’s fire alarm system during the assault so “the kids would come pouring out of the classrooms into the hall.”
New details emerging in the hours after the attack show authorities likely missed multiple red flags.
Cruz was expelled from Stoneman High School for multiple “disciplinary infractions,” and posted videos of himself threatening “mass shootings” on YouTube.
Buzzfeed is reporting that the FBI was informed of Cruz’s disturbing social media posts in recent months after a YouTuber user reported a video where the suspect stated “I’m going to be a professional school shooter.”
“They came to my office the next morning and asked me if I knew anything about the person,” the 36-year old user told Buzzfeed. “I didn’t. They took a copy of the screenshot and that was the last I heard from them.”
BREAKING: Reports of ‘ACTIVE SHOOTER’ at Florida High School, Gunman 'Still At Large'
Law enforcement in Broward County, Florida are responding to what appears to be an “active shooter” at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; with police and SWAT teams descending on the scene as local students are evacuated.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the incident on social media, saying “there are reports of victims” at the local school and urging residents to “avoid the area” as officials rush to contain the situation.
“#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,” tweeted the Department.
“Avoid the area of Stoneman Douglas HS. #BSO is currently working a developing incident regarding a report of active shooter,” the statement adds. “Shooter still at large.”
#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
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
Follow @browardsheriff for latest info on the #stonemanshooting. Shooter still at large.
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 14, 2018
More information as it develops.
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