Florida school shooting: Ivanka Trump ‘praying’ for families of ‘innocent lives lost’

The US President’s first daughter expressed her condolences on social media to the families of the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Speaking on Twitter, she said: “Praying for the innocent lives lost, their families and the Parkland, Florida community in the wake of today’s unspeakable tragedy.”

The Tweet comes after her father Donald Trump tweeted that he was in contact with Florida authorities after the shooting and Governor Rick Scott.

The President said: “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.”

The White House cancelled its daily press briefing after the shooting.

Police have arrested Nikolas Cruz, 19, for the suspected shooting.

Margate Fire Department told CBS Miami between 20 and 50 people have been injured while other sources say “at least 17” people were killed.

Coral Springs Mayor Skip Campbell said moments later there have been “multiple fatalities” while Broward Sheriff reported “17 victims” have been taken to nearby hospitals.

The gunman is believed to have worn a gasmask as he opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shortly after 2pm local time (7pm GMT) just as students were preparing to leave for the day.

US Senator Nelson said the Florida school shooter “wore a gas mask and [had] smoke grenades. He set off the fire alarm so the kids would come out into the hallways and could get a higher victim count.”

Some local reports suggest he pressed the fire alarm and shot at students as they evacuated the premises.

The suspect is now in police custody, according to a spokesman for the Broward County Sheriff.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said on Twitter that had he had been in touch with local officials about the incident.

He said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the students, their families and the entire community. We will continue to receive briefings from law enforcement and issue updates.”

The Governor added that the massacre was “absolutely pure evil”.

A Spokesman for Broward Health North said: “First and foremost we want to extend our condolences to all those people involved in the tragedy today.

“The suspect was treated and released into police custody. We cannot disclose what injuries he sustained.

He said eight patients were received, two patients died, three are in critical condition, three are in a stable condition.

This is the third most deadly mass shooting in modern US history to take place within five months.

Three of the eight most deadly shootings in modern US history have happened in the last five months: 103 dead and 881 injured in three shootings.

It was the 18th shooting in a US school so far this year, according to gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety.

That tally includes suicides and incidents when no one was injured, as well as the January shooting in which a 15-year-old gunman killed two fellow students at a Benton, Kentucky, high school.