In the wake of this week’s deadly school shooting in Florida, the FBI has admitted that it ignored a tip-off about gunman Nikolas Cruz, after being warned last month that the 19-year-old had a “desire to kill people” and the means to carry out a mass-shooting.
The FBI has revealed that an individual close to Cruz contacted its tip line on January 5 to report his “gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.”
The tip should have been flagged as a “potential threat to life” and passed on to Miami field office for further investigation, but in a stunning admission, the bureau has admitted that “protocols were not followed” an the tip went ignored.
“The information was not provided to the Miami Field Office, and no further investigation was conducted at that time,” the bureau said in a statement.
Cruz killed 17 people and wounded 14 others in a massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday of this week. He carried out the shooting with an A5-15 semi-automatic, which he had purchased legally at a Florida gun shop.
FBI director Christopher Wray told reporters:
“We are still investigating the facts. I am committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public. It’s up to all Americans to be vigilant, and when members of the public contact us with concerns, we must act properly and quickly.”
He also said that the FBI had reached out to the families of victims, and that it “deeply” regrets the additional pain that will be caused by this latest news.
Florida’s governor Rick Scott lashed out in the wake of the admission, calling for Wray to resign and telling media:
“The FBI’s failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable. Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn’t going to cut it. An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain.”
Scott himself is a champion of America’s National Rifle Association, and was once praised by the NRA’s Political Victory Fund, who said that he has “signed more pro-gun bills into law in one term than any other governor in Florida history.”
Nikolas Cruz remains in prison in Fort Lauderdale, where is is reportedly on suicide watch. He has yet to be formally charged, but faces 17 counts of murder, and it is likely that state prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
