Florida school shooter charged with 17 counts of murder

WARNING: Some readers may find the following distressing. 

Yesterday, we reported on the tragic scenes which took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

In the deadliest school shooting of 2018 so far, a 19-year-old by the name of Nikolas Cruz opened fire at approximately 2:30pm killing 15 people inside the school and two outside.

My little brother just sent me this video of the swat team evacuating his classroom at stoneman douglas. So scary but glad he's safe. @nbc6 @CBSMiami @NBCNews @wsvn @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/XNTtra221q

— Melody (@Melody_Ball) February 14, 2018

Cruz was armed with a AR-15 Rifle which he obtained legally. The same make of rifle which was used in previous noted shootings. The shooter was a past pupil of Marjory High School, before he was expelled in 2017. He was known to many of the students which were present in the school when he re-entered yesterday.

#UPDATE This is the moment authorities took the Florida school shooting suspect in custody >https://t.co/OkO5hke2za pic.twitter.com/YrvbNWgaf0

— FOX5 Las Vegas (@FOX5Vegas) February 14, 2018

Cruz was not to be allowed on the school campus with a backpack when he attended the school as teachers were made aware of his obsession with weapons and his apparent social media accounts feature many photos of the Floridian posing with guns or knives.

"Everyone predicted it," a student said about the #Parkland shooting. pic.twitter.com/mbzBIw8iUa

— Vic Micolucci WJXT (@WJXTvic) February 14, 2018

This AP photo from the Parkland, Florida shooting is just... pic.twitter.com/dVgQtmw9yk

— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) February 14, 2018

Today, February 15, Nikolas Cruz has been charged with 17 counts of  premeditated murder. Photo by Broward's Sheriff's Office via Getty Images

19-year-old Parkland, Florida, school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, according to sheriff's office https://t.co/8XEE7sNFoP pic.twitter.com/SC5whP8FbO

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 15, 2018

Alongside the 17 people who lost their lives, 23 remain injured, with many of them recovering at the local hospital.

Hospital News conference underway at #Broward Health North in Florida about the school shooting. #Parkland pic.twitter.com/rIKuz2JdZS

— WBZ | CBS Boston News (@wbz) February 14, 2018

The Parkland shooting is the deadliest school shooting since the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, which killed 26 people. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy. Feature image - Miami Herald.