The police at the shooting location (Photo: Reuters)

The suspect has been named as Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school who had been expelled. As the attack unfolded students were forced to hide as police swooped in on the building. It is the sixth school shooting incident in 2018 that has either wounded or killed students.

US President Donald Trump expressed his condolence to the victims’ families. Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, 45 miles north of Miami, was placed on a "code red" lockdown as the event unfolded.