PARKLAND, Fla., Feb. 14 (UPI) — Law enforcement in South Florida arrested one person suspected of a shooting at a high school that left 17 people dead, local officials said Wednesday.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
“Shooter is now in custody,” the department tweeted.
Sheriff Scott Israel said officers arrested the suspect off-campus.
“He was taken into arrest without incident,” Israel said.
He said the suspect attended the high school at one time, but “I don’t know why he left.”
Robert Runcie, superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, briefed reporters about the shooting around 4:15 p.m.
“I don’t know the number that’s been transported at this point, but there are numerous fatalities. It’s a horrific situation,” he said.
Israel said 14 victims were transported to local hospitals “with varying degrees of wounds.”
“Victims have been and continue to be transported to Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health North hospital,” BSO tweeted.
Runcie said law enforcement officials believe it was a lone shooter.
“At this point we have no evidence that there’s been more than one shooter,” he said.
The Coral Springs Police Department told students and teachers to “remain barricaded inside until police reach you.”
Local media footage of the scene showed students walking out of the building, some with their hands up in the air, others with their hands on the shoulders of the students in front of them.
Israel said SWAT teams were working to clear the school as of 5 p.m. He said they were unsure if there were still people hiding or injured inside the building.
Parents were praying outside.
White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said President Donald Trump was monitoring the situation.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected,” she said.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Trump spoke with Florida Gov. Rick Scott and offered federal assistance if needed.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is “A”-rated school in an affluent suburb of Fort Lauderdale. It has an enrollment of about 3,000 students.
This is a developing story.
