Florida shooting: Trump orders flags at half-staff

Washington DC [United States], Feb 16 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Thursday mourning the victims of the deadly shooting at Florida high school, ordering American flags to be flown at half-staff.

"As a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence perpetrated on February 14, 2018, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories and possessions until sunset, February 19, 2018," the US President said in his Presidential Proclamation.

The proclamation calls on all United States embassies, public buildings, military facilities, diplomatic sites, naval vessels, consular offices, other facilities abroad, to fly their flags at half-staff through Monday.

He also said that he is planning to meet with the families of the students and teachers who were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School yesterday.

President Trump made this announcement during a nationwide address from the White House, in which he described the massacre as a "scene of terrible violence, hatred and evil".

"In times of tragedy, the bonds that sustain us are those of family, faith, community, and country. These bonds are stronger than the forces of hatred and evil - and these bonds grow even stronger in the hours of our greatest need," Donald Trump said.

19-year-old Nikolas Cruz gunned down at least 17 people on Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was a former student and was expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons.

Cruz was booked on 17 counts of premeditated murder on Thursday.

According to local media, 15 people were injured.

Further, the leader of a white nationalist militia on Thursday reportedly claimed that Cruz was a member of his group and also participated in paramilitary drills in Tallahassee, according to reports. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI