16 People Reported Dead in Florida High School Shooting

Police in Parkland, Florida, have arrested a suspect after responding to a deadly shooting at a local high school.

More than an hour after the shooting began, the Broward Sherriff’s Office said the “shooter is now in custody”.

But it warned that the scene at Stoneman Douglas High School “is still active”.
School superintendent Robert Runcie told reporters: “there are fatalities involved here.”

Both Mr Runcie and the Sherriff, Scott Israel, identified the suspect as a former student of the school.

“So far we have at least 14 victims,” the Sherriff’s department said, without specifying their condition.

US media outlets reported that up to 20 people may have been injured, while some have been evacuated.

A local Fox news affiliate reported seeing several people being treated for injuries outside the school.

Meanwhile, Florida Senator Bill Nelson told Fox News there were “many deaths”, citing conversations with the school superintendent, the FBI, and the undersheriff.

The local public school district tweeted: “Today, close to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s dismissal, students and staff heard what sounded like gunfire.”