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Crime & Justice • Mass Shooting

Parkland Shooting

The Parkland shooting was a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Parkland shooting was a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018. Seventeen people were killed and 17 others were injured. The attacker, Nikolas Cruz, was a former student at the school and was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

Attack

The shooting occurred during the school day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Authorities reported that the gunman entered the building and opened fire, causing multiple fatalities and injuries before fleeing the scene.

Perpetrator and investigation

Police identified the shooter as Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student who had been expelled from the school. He was arrested shortly after the attack, and state and federal investigations followed.

Cruz was charged with 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder. He later pleaded guilty, and a Florida jury recommended life imprisonment, which was imposed in 2022.

Aftermath

The shooting drew national attention and contributed to renewed debate over school safety and gun policy in the United States. It also led to student activism and the Never Again MSD movement.

Key facts

  • The attack took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018.
  • Seventeen people were killed and 17 others were injured.
  • Nikolas Cruz, a former student who had been expelled from the school, was identified as the shooter.
  • In 2021, Cruz pleaded guilty to the charges; in 2022, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
  • The shooting became one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
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Canadian context

The Parkland shooting was widely covered in Canada and informed Canadian discussions about school safety, gun violence, and firearm policy.

Frequently asked questions

When did the Parkland shooting happen?
It happened on February 14, 2018.
How many people were killed?
Seventeen people were killed.
How many people were injured?
Seventeen people were injured.
Who carried out the shooting?
Police identified the shooter as Nikolas Cruz, a former student of the school.
What happened to Nikolas Cruz?
He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 2022.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkland_high_school_shooting
    Supports: Date, location, fatalities, injuries, and identification of the shooter.
  2. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43071281
    Supports: Deaths, injuries, date, location, and shooter identity.
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/event/Parkland-High-School-Shooting
    Supports: Deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history and basic event facts.
  4. U.S. Department of Justice — https://www.justice.gov/ag/page/file/1319516/dl?inline
    Supports: Overview of the shooting and legal proceedings.
  5. NPR — https://www.npr.org/2022/07/18/1112116217/the-trial-of-the-parkland-high-school-shooter-begins-he-could-get-the-death-pena
    Supports: Guilty plea, sentencing phase, and possible penalties.