PARKLAND, Fla. – Multiple news outlets reported Friday that building 12 of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 people were fatally shot Wednesday, will be demolished. However, school officials said the decision is not yet set in stone.
A memorial in honor of the victims is expected to replace the building. However, Broward County Public Schools spokeswoman Tracy Clark told Local 10 News that "no official decision has been made."
Superintendent Robert Runcie later confirmed that while the demolition is not a "done deal," he does support the request that has been made by "students, parents and members of the community."
Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine also expressed his support for the demolishment.
"No one should ever have to step foot in the building where Wednesday's massacre took place," Udine said in a statement. "Today, I call on Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives to step up to the plate. Fund the initiative to tear down and replace the existing classroom building where the shooting occurred on Feb. 14, 2018."
Udine said he also hopes the state will approve funds to place a memorial at the site of the building.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said Nikolas Cruz, 19, was dropped off at the school Wednesday by an Uber driver and entered the east stairwell of the building with an AR-15.
He shot into classrooms 1215, 1216 and 1214, returned to classrooms 1216 and 1215 and then shot into classroom 1213, Israel said.
Israel said Cruz took the west stairwell to the second floor and shot one victim in classroom 1234.
The sheriff said Cruz dropped his backpack and rifle and ran down the stairs before running toward the tennis courts.
He then crossed the field and ran west, blending in with students who were fleeing from the school.
Cruz was eventually taken into custody in Coral Springs.
