Bloodstained Parkland building will be razed. Parent says it’s ‘part of moving forward’

The 1200 building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has been a haunting reminder of one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history for over six years.

The building remained untouched since 2018 when a gunman killed 14 students and three staff members on Valentine’s Day. Preserved as evidence for the shooter’s trial, the three-story building is now set to be dismantled piece by piece, starting Friday.

The demolition, initially scheduled for Thursday morning, was delayed due to heavy rain and flooding. The building, described by visitors as a time capsule with bullet holes and bloodstains still visible, was closed off and fenced as a crime scene.

Officials anticipate that the demolition will take several weeks. While school officials have not yet announced what will replace the building, students, teachers, and families have suggested establishing a permanent memorial.

Victims’ families have been invited to observe the demolition from a designated viewing area on school grounds.

“The demolition of the building where my daughter Gina and so many others lost their lives is essential for moving forward,” said Tony Montalto, president of Stand with Parkland, in a statement to USA TODAY. “Taking down the 1200 building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School does not change the fact that the worst high school shooting in U.S. history happened here. Seventeen precious lives were tragically lost because basic school safety procedures were not prioritized.”

Other schools have also demolished buildings after mass shootings. Following the 2012 shooting, Sandy Hook Elementary School was torn down and rebuilt, reopening in 2016. In 2022, officials announced plans to demolish Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

Aftermath of the Parkland High School Shooting

Despite calls to destroy the old freshman building after the shooting, officials kept it intact until the gunman’s trial concluded in 2022.

During the trial, jurors toured the crime scene, witnessing bloodstains on the floor, bullet holes in the walls, shattered glass, and students’ homework and Valentine’s Day gifts left behind.

Nikolas Cruz, the shooter, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November 2022, charged with 17 counts of murder.

The victims’ families were outraged and disappointed by the jury’s decision. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, but under Florida law, a unanimous vote on at least one count is required for a death sentence.

In August, the building was used in a reenactment of the shooting for a civil lawsuit against former Broward County school resource officer Scot Peterson, who was accused of failing to protect students. Ballistic experts used an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle identical to the one Cruz used.

The lawsuit, brought by some of the victims’ families, claimed Peterson neglected his duty by not entering the building or engaging with the gunman. Peterson stated he stayed outside because he couldn’t determine where the gunshots were coming from.

In a separate criminal case in June 2023, Peterson was acquitted of 11 counts of child neglect, culpable negligence, and perjury.

‘Creating a Space that Honors Their Legacy’

The Parkland shooting ignited a national movement for gun control legislation and public safety reform. The student-led organization March for Our Lives was founded by survivors, leading hundreds of demonstrations across the country. In 2018, over 1 million people rallied in Washington, D.C., with thousands more rallying in 2022 for tighter gun control laws after other mass shootings.

Parkland families also established an advocacy group called Stand with Parkland in 2018. The national organization is dedicated to promoting practical public safety reforms focused on school safety, improved mental health support, and responsible firearms ownership.

Stand with Parkland has collaborated with state and local officials to raise awareness of school safety, playing a significant role in many bipartisan actions.