As the dust settles on today’s devastating mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a pair of sisters now has a text message chain that they both fully expected might be their last.
At about 2:30 PM today, a gunman opened fire in the high school, injuring dozens and leaving at least 17 students dead.
The shooter has been identified as 19-year-old Nicolas de Jesus Cruz, a former student at the school.
“We were told last year that he wasn’t allowed on campus with a backpack on him,” said math teacher Jim Gard. “There were problems with him last year threatening students, and I guess he was asked to leave campus.”
JUST IN: Sen. Ben Nelson says he's been told by the school superintendent that "there are a number of fatalities" pic.twitter.com/fSzl8Mi0QL
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 14, 2018
JUST IN (warning, disturbing video): Cell phone video inside the school as shots were going off at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High https://t.co/wHWo6XjccX pic.twitter.com/3ovf5LhzBs
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) February 14, 2018
The school went into lockdown, and the Coral Springs Police Department tweeted at students to “remain barricaded inside until police reach [them].”
Students/Teachers #Douglas High School Remain barricaded inside until police reach you.
— Coral Springs Police (@CoralSpringsPD) February 14, 2018
During the shooting, many students took to Twitter to tweet photos in real time.
so much for Valentine’s Day,,#stillshaking #stillscared #stillpraying pic.twitter.com/Zjv2gkJTKM
— Camila Fraser (@camilafraserr) February 14, 2018
Shooting at Marjory stoneman Douglas high school not even a hour ago.. prayers go out to everyone in the school pic.twitter.com/9n8bx2Vp4F
— cyanide. (@Tezlurkss) February 14, 2018
My school is being shot up and I am locked inside. I’m fucking scared right now. pic.twitter.com/mjiEmPvGNb
— Aidan (@TheCaptainAidan) February 14, 2018
Still locked in. I checked the local news and there is 20 victims. Long live Majory Stoneman Douglas High. pic.twitter.com/4kQMAlCBWt
— Aidan (@TheCaptainAidan) February 14, 2018
I am in a school shooting right now…
— Aidan (@TheCaptainAidan) February 14, 2018
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy took to the Senate floor to castigate his colleagues for their lack of action against this wholly American phenomenon “with zero parallel anywhere else.”
Sen. Chris Murphy addresses Florida school shooting on Senate floor: "Let me just note once again for my colleagues…We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else." https://t.co/BuEAqG21or pic.twitter.com/h2ODRP5g7N
— ABC News (@ABC) February 14, 2018
This is the 59th mass shooting at or near a school this academic year.
As long as the Republican Party continues to protect the NRA over its own constituents, heartwrenching text messages like these will continue to be the norm in this country.
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