Florida’s safest city sees 17 fatalities in school shooting
On Monday, Parkland, Fl. was named the state’s safest city.
According to an analysis by the National Council for Home Safety and Security, Parkland only saw seven reported violent crimes and 186 property crimes, making the city’s crime rate 0.6 per 1,000 residents.
That is, until multiple lives were lost in a matter of minutes yesterday.
On Wednesday, Parkland, Fl. saw at least 17 deaths after a gunman, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at a local high school.
The shooting, which took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, occurred when 19-year-old former student Cruz used a .223 caliber, AR-15 style firearm shot into a swarm of students exiting the school after the fire alarm sounded. Investigators assume the fire alarm was pulled by Cruz in an effort to draw students out of classes, increasing the probability of possible fatalities.
As students exited the building, gunshots rang out—some ran for cover outside, some ran back inside the school, some just ran.
The suspect is now in custody, according to Sheriff Scott Israel.
“This has been a day where we’ve seen the worst of humanity,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said. “Tomorrow is going to bring out the best in humanity as we come together to move forward from this unspeakable tragedy.”
Only 45 days into 2018, this incident in Parkland marks the 18th school shooting of the year.
“We did everything that we were supposed to do,” Marjory teacher Melissa Falkowski said. “I feel today that our government, our country, has failed us and failed our kids,”
