Who is Nikolas de Jesus Cruz, accused gunman in Florida high school attack?

Police have taken Nikolas Cruz into custody after a shooting at a Florida high school on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.

Cruz, 19, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., was taken into custody off-campus, according to Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.

Cruz was taken from the school by ambulance to a hospital nearby.

Israel confirmed that 17 people were killed in the attack.

The shooting began around 2 p.m. at the large school complex located in Broward County in southern Florida.

The Miami Herald reports that a teacher at the school said Cruz, 19, had been identified as a potential threat to fellow students in the past.

Math teacher Jim Gard told the Harold, “There were problems with him last year threatening students, I guess he was asked to leave campus.”

Here’s what we know now (according to police):

  • The shooting started outside the building, then Cruz went into the school and continued shooting.
  • He had "multiple" magazines of ammuniton
  • He had an AR-15 weapon
  • He had a gas mask and "smoke grenades"
  • He pulled the fire alarm as he went into the school and then began shooting
  • He had "disturbing" material on social media accounts.
  • He is 5'8" tall
  • He has red hair
  • He was wearing a maroon shirt and black pants
  • He was taken into custody off-campus

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