Students were seen filing out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland with their hands above their heads, lead away by armed police officers.
Others fled across the car park as they ran for safety. The perimeter has extended outside the school and into the surrounding area as officers attempt to create a safe zone for nearly citizens.
Police raced to the high school after it was placed on a ‘code red’ lockdown, with high powered military vehicles also seen on the site. The first calls came in at roughly 2pm local time. More than 20 victims are believed to have been injured.
There are also unconfirmed reports a teacher who attempted to defend her students may have died.
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One victim heard the gunshots and thought it may have been caused by balloons popping, with many found around the site to commemorate Valentine’s Day.
SWAT teams are currently on the scene along with the FBI, with some students believed to still be locked in their classrooms.
A person of interest is believed to be a student who was in class earlier that day.
The White House and local Senator Marco Rubio are currently monitoring the situation.
In a statement Senator Rubio said: “We are monitoring the horrible unfolding situation in Broward County, Florida with reports of a shooting at a local high school.
Writing on Twitter, the President added: “My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting.
“No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.
One student who knew the alleged attacker said he was a “troubled kid who always had a certain amount of issues going on”.
The student claimed the attacker, believed to have been between 20 and 21 years old, would show his classmates pictures of his guns that he had taken on his phone.
He added: “He knew the layout of the school, he knew where to go. He went to this school for almost 3 years.”
More to follow…