Armed guard waited outside school while gunmen shot students
Students being evacuated by police from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Photo: AAP
The armed security guard assigned to a Florida high school during a deadly shooting last week stayed outside the building during the attack and failed to confront the shooter, the county sheriff has said.
Scott Peterson, on duty as the school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, in Miami, was suspended without pay and placed under investigation.
He then chose to resign, said Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.
Mr Peterson reportedly took up a position viewing the western entrance of the building that was under attack for more than four minutes.
But “he never went in,” according to Sheriff Israel
When asked what Mr Peterson should have done, Sheriff Israel said the deputy should have “went in, addressed the killer, killed the killer”.
Sheriff Israel said he decided to suspend Mr Peterson after viewing a video that showed the deputy’s actions during the rampage that killed 17 people.
He did not say if Mr Peterson would face criminal charges.
Seventeen people were killed when a gunman opened fire at a Florida high school on Valentine’s Day.
Cruz on a closed circuit television screen at a bond hearing last week. Photo: Getty
“What I saw was a deputy arrive at the west side of Building 12, take up a position and he never went in,” Sheriff Israel said.
The building is popularly known as “the freshman building”.
Sheriff Israel said he would not release the video that shows Mr Peterson’s actions at this time and may never do so, depending on the prosecution and criminal case.
President Donald Trump on Thursday (AEDT) met six students from the high school, listening to their stories of survival.
He suggested arming teachers and sports coaches and using armed former military personnel to provide school security.
“We’re going to do something about this horrible situation that’s going on. We’re all going to figure it out together,” he said.
“We’re going to be very strong on background checks, we’re doing very strong background checks, very strong emphasis on the mental health.”
Survivors of the shooting have been vocal in calling for a gun law reform.
On Thursday, survivors descended on the state’s Capitol with one overarching message: It’s time for action.
The students split into several groups to talk with politicians and other state leaders about gun control, the legislative process, and mental health issues, while others held a rally on the steps of the building in Tallahassee.
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