- On February 14, 2018, a gunman opened fire at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
- The deadly school shooting left 17 students, faculty, and staff members killed, and another 17 injured.
- This timeline, constructed from The Broward Sheriff's Office official records and surveillance footage, outlines how the massacre unfolded.
One of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States took place one year ago at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Fewer than two hours after the gunfire first broke out, authorities arrested a single suspect: 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who had formerly been a student at the school.
The massacre left 17 students and staff members killed, and reignited a nationwide debate over gun control. Cruz remains behind bars, and could face the death penalty if prosecutors pursue a trial.
One year after the shooting, students, staff, and families have gathered at the school to remember the victims.
Here, moment by moment, is how the event unfolded.
Brennan Weiss contributed to an earlier version of this report.
2:19 p.m.: The suspect in the shooting, then-19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, arrived at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School via an Uber.
Source: The Broward Sheriff's Office
2:21 p.m.: He entered Building 12, walking into a stairwell with a black rifle bag. He opened fire within 15 seconds, firing into multiple classrooms.
Source: The Broward Sheriff's Office
2:22 p.m.: The school's fire alarm goes off, prompting students to begin evacuating. This is also when the first 911 call went out.
Source: Police records
2:23 p.m.: The school resource officer, Deputy Scot Peterson, issues a radio alert warning of shots fired. "Be advised we have possible — could be firecrackers. I think we have shots fired, possible shots fired, 1200 building," he said.
Source: Police records
Peterson can be seen arriving at the southeast corner of Building 12, where he remained "for the duration of the incident," according to video-surveillance records.
Peterson would later be severely criticized for failing to enter the building as students were being gunned down. He has maintained that he didn't know where the gunfire was coming from.
Source: Business Insider
2:28 p.m.: Cruz exits the school and runs toward the tennis courts and heads south. He blends into a crowd of students as they flee the campus.
Source: The Broward Sheriff's Office
2:32 p.m.: Four Coral Springs police officers and two Broward County sheriff's deputies entered the building for the first time. The sheriff's department would later face intense scrutiny over the length of time they waited before entering.
Source: Police records
2:50 p.m.: Cruz walks into a Walmart, buys a drink at the Subway restaurant inside, and leaves on foot.
Source: The Broward Sheriff's Office
3:01 p.m.: Cruz then goes to a McDonald's restaurant, sits down, then leaves on foot.
Source: The Broward Sheriff's Office
3:41 p.m.: An officer with the Coconut Creek Police Department arrests Cruz in a nearby neighborhood.
—Franklin White (@FranklinWSVN) February 15, 2018
Source: The Broward Sheriff's Office
6:27 p.m.: Then-Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel announced that 17 people were killed in the shooting, and identifies Cruz as the suspect.
—Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 15, 2018
February 15, 2018: Cruz appears in court for the first time via video. He is charged with 17 counts of murder, and his public defender describes him as a “deeply troubled child who has endured a lot of emotional trauma in a short period of time.”
Source: Associated Press
March 14, 2018: A judge enters a "not guilty" plea on Cruz's behalf. His attorneys have repeatedly offered to enter a guilty plea if prosecutors will vow not to pursue the death penalty. Prosecutors have rejected that deal, meaning a lengthy death-penalty trial is likely.
Source: Business Insider
February 14, 2019: The one-year anniversary of the shooting occurs. Students, families, and staff members spend the day remembering the 14 students and 3 staff members who died.
Source: Associated Press