Nikolas Cruz, the Florida gunman who shot 17 students and teachers in a killing rampage, has previously spoken about his hatred for minorities including gays, people of colour and Jewish people.

On Wednesday the 19 year old shot and killed seventeen people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. A further fifteen people were wounded during the attack.

The teenager committed the massacre with a legally purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. He had previously been expelled from the school when he was a student.

Investigator have found that in a private Instagram group chat Cruz had previously shared hundreds of racist messages.

After another group members said they didn’t like gay people, Cruz responded by saying ‘Shoot them in the back of the head.”

In the online discussion Cruz referred to white women who had interracial relationships as “traitors”.

Investigators have revealed that the teenager bought his weapon over a year ago and in the following twelve months had bought another five firearms. All were purchased legally.

Cruz, who was adopted at birth, was staying with family friends following the death of his mother in November.

The FBI had been tipped off about his erratic behaviour in the weeks leading up to the shooting but a communication breakdown meant the information was not properly investigated.

OIP Staff