Trump to speak Thursday on South Florida school shooting

President Trump is set to speak Thursday morning on the deadly shooting at a South Florida high school, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. 

“The President will address the nation at 11am today on the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida,” Sanders tweeted. 

The President will address the nation at 11am today on the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) February 15, 2018

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The president’s expected remarks come less than 24 hours after a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., about 25 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale.

The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school, was arrested after fleeing the scene of the shooting. He was charged Thursday with 17 counts of premeditated murder. 

Trump first addressed the shooting in a tweet on Wednesday, saying that “no child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.”

“My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting,” he tweeted. 

My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2018

On Thursday, Trump suggested mental health played a roll in the tragedy.

So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2018

The shooting in Parkland was the latest attack on a school to roil the country. In the first month and a half of 2018, there have been 18 school shootings, according to a count by the gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.