Chihiro Miya
People attend a candlelight vigil for victims of yesterday’s shooting at nearby Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, U.S. February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
A candlelight vigil held for the 17 victims that were killed by a teenage gunman in Florida on Thursday.
It was the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.
Within only 10 minutes, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, opened fire with an armed semiautomatic AR-15 rifle inside five classrooms on the first and second floors of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The Young Survivors’ Voice
The vigil was held near the high school where mourners lit candles to remember the victims.
“I’m a little bit distraught, I sort of, can’t really wrap my finger around it, exactly what happened,” 17-year-old student Colin Obrien told Reuters.
“I’m just sad to see most of my friends are on that stage right now. They are gone, the coach is gone. It’s so sad.”
Other students shared their horrible experience on Twitter.
I cannot stop hearing the sound of the gun as he walked down my hallway. I cannot unsee my classmates who were shot get carried out by police. I cannot unsee the bodies on the floor. Please keep in mind the horror of what we’ve gone through today. #prayfordouglas
— Morgan Williams (@morganw_44) 2018年2月15日
A gun has killed 17 of my fellow classmates. A gun has traumatized my friends. My entire school, traumatized from this tragedy. This could have been prevented. Please stfu tomi https://t.co/qNo03ZE3Ev
— kyra (@longlivekcx) February 15, 2018
About my tweet directed to president trump, I apologize for the profanity and harsh comment I made. I hope you know I’m a grieving 16 year old girl who lost friends, teachers, and peers yesterday. I was and am still angry. I am apologizing for my comment but not for my anger.
— sarah // NEVER AGAIN (@sarahchad_) 2018年2月15日
Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter was killed in the shooting, spoke about his suffering.
“I sent her to school yesterday,” said Guttenberg in the vigil. “She was supposed to be safe. My job is to protect my children and I sent my kid to school. What is unfathomable is that Jaime took a bullet and is dead. I don’t know what I do next. My wife is home. We are broken… Don’t tell me there’s no such thing as gun violence.”
Father of Jaime Guttenberg, one of the Florida school shooting victims, speaks at a vigil: “I don’t know what I do next. My wife is home. We are broken… Don’t tell me there’s no such thing as gun violence.” pic.twitter.com/ugoZ9naos3
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) February 16, 2018
Nikolas Cruz’s Confession
Cruz appeared in court Wednesday and was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
He confessed to carrying out one of the nation’s deadliest school shootings, according to a sheriff’s department report released Thursday.
Nikolas Cruz (C) appears via video monitor with Melisa McNeill (R), his public defender, at a bond court hearing after being charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S., February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Susan Stocker/Pool
According to officials, the suspect dropped his an AR-15 rifle and backpack on the third floor after killing 17 people.
The sheriff said that Cruz fled, hid in a crowd of students at the high school, and later visited a Wal-Mart and McDonald’s.
About 40 minutes later, he was taken into custody.