Published: 15th February 2018
19-year-old ex-student opens fire in Florida school, kills 17 on Valentine's Day
According to media, Cruz had earlier been identified as a potential threat to his classmates but the issue of bullying and psychological trauma which could have triggered the act is coming into focus
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Dozens were injured, a few of them critical after the former student walked in and rained fire on them | AFP
A 19-year-old-student on Wednesday night walked into his former high-school in Florida armed with an AR-15 rifle and opened fire, killing 17 people. According to media reports, Nikolas Cruz- a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland- had been expelled for "disciplinary reasons," but was currently enrolled in Broward County Public Schools. The teenager has been described as troubled by many of his peers.
Cruz was "arrested without incident" after the Valentine's Day massacre and taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said the victims include both students and teachers, 12 of whom have been identified, according to the AFP. Fourteen people were taken to hospital where of them succumbed to their wounds.
However, now amid discussions of gun control and charge in the US, several are questioning the lack attention and awareness given to bullying and psychological trauma in American schools. According to a local American gun advocacy group, the Parkland shooting is the 59th shooting at or near schools this academic year.