Texas School Shooting Stirs Emotions In Parkland

PARKLAND, FL — The wounds were still fresh at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Friday as word of yet another school massacre reached this affluent South Florida community. For some, the deadly Texas school shooting that killed 10, brought memories flooding back of the horrific Valentine's Day attack that forever changed this community. In an instant, they — and now others too — were transformed into survivors.

Senior David Hogg, who has been among the most outspoken Parkland students, said he planned to spray paint his graduation cap orange to show support for "common sense" gun laws.

"Feel free to join if you want," he said on Twitter with the hashtag #OrangeCaps. He also tweeted the better known #NeverAgain hashtag that has come to be most associated with the Parkland tragedy.

"Stay safe everyone. You do not deserve this; Nobody deserves this," added Parkland's Ryan Deitsch. "We are here for you. America is here for you."

Families of the 17 victims killed in Parkland issued a joint statement saying they were "deeply saddened" that another group of families in Santa Fe had to suffer the loss of a loved one at school. They asked the media to avoid mentioning the accused shooter's name.

"These hate-filled individuals that attack and kill innocent children and school staff should not be glorified," their statement cautioned. "The stories referring to this event should be about the victims, their families and how we can prevent this from ever happening again."

Stoneman Douglas Principal Ty Thompson who hugged each of his returning students following the Florida tragedy said that his Eagles stand united with the Santa Fe survivors.

"Our hearts break for the horrible tragedy that has taken place in Texas today," Thompson said. "No community should ever have to endure this pain!"

News of the Texas tragedy couldn't have come on a worse day for Marjory Stoneman seniors, who were celebrating their final day of high school, and perhaps one last chance to leave with a happy memory of their high school experience.

"I kind of went back in time a little bit and felt the same emotions as I did when our school was under attack," senior Taha Khalaff told Local 10 News in Miami.

A parent of two Stoneman Douglas students said he was picking up his two children early on Friday after they began experiencing flashbacks to that sunny Wednesday afternoon when an emotionally disturbed gunman unleashed his deadly rampage on Building 12.

"I don't want to talk about it just because it's like so sad and everything," Zach Jordan, a junior, told the news crew. "But I want to talk about it because if we don't talk about it nothing is going to happen."

Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter in the Florida tragedy, said his greatest fear had been that another community would suffer a similar event.

"Now we have eight more children dead and our leadership in Washington has done nothing," he said on social media. "We do not need thoughts and prayers. We need action and we need it now."

Emma Gonzalez, another Parkland student who has become a visible proponent of school safety, tweeted a message of empathy to her fellow students in Texas.

"Santa Fe High, you didn't deserve this. You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you," Gonzalez offered. "You deserve more than thoughts and prayers — and after supporting us by walking out, we will be there to support you by raising up your voices."

Student Jaclyn Corin added that her heart was "so heavy" for the Texas students.

"It's an all too familiar feeling no one should have to experience," she said. "I am so sorry this epidemic touched your town. Parkland will stand with you now and forever."

Photo by Paul Scicchitano