Florida (TIP) : 17 An Indian-American student has sustained injuries ,17 persons, including students , were killed at a Florida high school in the United States by a gun-toting former student, report says.

Meanwhile, the perpetrator has been identified as Nicolas Cruz. He has been arrested and taken into custody. The incident took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

US President Donald Trump has expressed condolences. It has been learnt that he spoke with the Florida Governor and was in touch with other top officials. Trump was tracking the tragic incident. First lady Melania Trump has also expressed grief over the incident. The mass shooting is reportedly 18th school shooting of the year and said to be one of the deadliest ones. The incident has once again raised the debate on the much-talked about gun control legislation in the US.

Reports so far:

• Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has said, “Nicolas Cruz was the killer. He is in custody. We already began to dissect his websites and social media that he was on … some of the things that come to mind are very, very disturbing,”
• 19-year-old Cruz is a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Cruz got expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons, the Broward County Sheriff said. The suspect had countless magazines, he added.
• Police said that apparently the former student was carrying one AR-15 rifle. However, they were trying ascertain whether he had other arms or not.
• According to reports, of the 17 dead, 12 were inside the building, two were shot dead just outside the building, one was on a street outside the school, and two people lost their lives at a hospital. Israel, however, could not confirm the number of victim students.
• It has been learnt that the school has quite a number of Indian American students. It is believed that at least one student from the community was injured in the incident, according to reports. The ninth grade student had sustained minor injures as he was hit by splinters. He was being treated at a hospital.
• “This is a sad day for the country and the community. We all Indian Americans are praying for the victims,” Shekar Reddy, whose friend’s son was among those injured in the mass shooting, told PTI.
• President Donald Trump in a tweet expressed condolences, “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.” He also said that he has spoken to Governor Rick Scott. “We are working closely with law enforcement on the terrible Florida school shooting,” Trump said.
• First lady Melania Trump said, “My heart is heavy over the school shooting in Florida. Keeping all affected in my thoughts & prayers.”

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