Breaking: At Least 20 Shot in Florida, Coast Guard Choppers Scrambled
Coast Guard and sheriff’s office helicopters were swarming Wednesday after a serious school shooting was reported in South Florida with at least 20 victims, according local media reports.
Authorities were called to the scene just before 3 p.m. at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, which is near Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.
CBS WFOR in Miami cited a source with knowledge of the situation who said that “there are multiple people shot” and the shooter may be a former student of the school.
“The father of a student at the school says the shooter was allegedly ‘wearing a black vest with a red shirt…and supposedly he pulled the fire alarm and planned it,'” stated CBS “This Morning,” which could indicate that the crime was premeditated.
Early reports indicated there were a higher number of victims, with the Margate Fire Department at first indicating between 20 and 50 individuals possibly shot. The Palm Beach Post reported at least 20 victims, with at least one fatality.
“A number of people could be seen being loaded into ambulances on a stretcher,” WFOR reported.
Media reported that at least one suspect was in custody by about 4 p.m.
Some students who were inside the school during the shooting used Twitter and text messaging to describe the scene.
“All of a sudden there was a really loud noise…..people are crying the closet,” a person who claimed to be a student told CBS reporter Rick Folbaum via text message.
One student sent an image showing that students were hunkered down under desks.
NEW: Photo from a student in the school barricaded in a classroom at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High where an active shooter incident is underway pic.twitter.com/rBVrENjtCM
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) February 14, 2018
Both President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Rick Scott posted brief messages on social media acknowledging the situation.
“I’ve spoken with @BrowardSheriff Scott Israel, @browardschools Superintendent Robert Runcie and FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen regarding Stoneman Douglas High School,” Scott wrote on Twitter. “We’ll continue to receive updates from law enforcement.”
“My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school,” posted Donald Trump.
Just spoke to Governor Rick Scott. We are working closely with law enforcement on the terrible Florida school shooting.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2018
“Just spoke to Governor Rick Scott. We are working closely with law enforcement on the terrible Florida school shooting,” he added. Gov. Scott was reportedly personally on his way to the location of the incident.
This is a developing situation, and we will post additional updates as they emerge.
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