It was a day like any other at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Students roamed the halls, unaware that in mere moments, their lives would be changed forever. What followed left the nation shocked and in mourning, as tragedy struck without warning.
Nikolas Cruz, a former student who had been expelled from the school, entered the campus carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.
Cruz was not an unfamiliar face to the students or staff, but on this day, his return was anything but friendly. Unbeknownst to the hundreds of students busy preparing for the end of the school day, Cruz was about to embark on a deadly mission.
His reasons were unclear at first, but his actions spoke louder than any words could. Moving quickly and methodically, Cruz began firing, creating chaos and panic.
As shots rang out, students and teachers scrambled for cover, some hiding in classrooms, others making desperate calls to 911. “I just heard these loud bangs, and then everyone started screaming,” one student recalled, the terror still evident in her voice.
The massacre claimed the lives of 17 people—14 students and three staff members—while another 17 were injured.
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