PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) – The 19-year-old suspect in a deadly school shooting in Florida has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
19-year-old Nikolas Jacob Cruz was booked into the Broward County Jail early Thursday, still wearing the hospital gown he was given after being treated for labored breathing following his arrest. He was later questioned overnight before being booked into jail.
Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said Cruz was a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, which is a suburb of Fort Lauderdale.
Investigators said he had been expelled due to unspecified disciplinary reasons.
He is accused of entering the campus just before school was dismissed on Wednesday afternoon and opening fire on students and teachers.
Officials said another 14 people have been treated at area hospitals.
Students and neighbors have described Cruz as a troubled teenager who allegedly harassed fellow classmates, posed with guns on social media and talked about killing animals.
Investigators also stated that his social media posts, which included threats to kill people, were disturbing.
Cruz, who is listed at 5-foot-7 and 131 pounds, is being held without bond. Jail records don’t list an attorney for him.
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