Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting — 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, USA
The deadliest mass shooting at a U.S. high school, killing 17, it prompted major gun-law reforms in Florida and a nationwide student-led gun control movement.
Key Facts
- Date
- February 14, 2018
- Killed
- 17 people
- Injured
- 17 people
- Perpetrator
- Nikolas Cruz, 19, former student
- Sentence
- Life without parole (November 2, 2022)
- Legislative response
- Florida gun law signed March 9, 2018
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student with a lengthy record of disciplinary issues and threatening behavior, had drawn repeated warnings to law enforcement before the attack. Despite this, the Broward County Sheriff's Office failed to act on multiple prior alerts about his conduct, leaving him able to access the school.
On February 14, 2018, Cruz opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others. He fled by blending in with evacuating students and was arrested without incident roughly 80 minutes later in nearby Coral Springs.
Governor Rick Scott signed new Florida gun restrictions on March 9, 2018, and students founded Never Again MSD to lobby for gun control nationally. Sheriff Scott Israel was removed from office following widespread criticism of law enforcement failures. Cruz ultimately pleaded guilty in 2021 and was sentenced to life without parole in November 2022.