The armed school resource deputy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School resigned last week after it was discovered that he never entered the building while the shooting happened. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said that Deputy Scot Peterson waited outside the building, but never went in to attempt to confront the shooter.
Israel said that he saw Peterson “arrive at the west side of Building 12, take up a position” and then Peterson “never went in.” Israel said that Peterson should have “addressed the killer. Killed the killer.” Since Peterson is a deputy of the Sheriff’s department, he was originally put on leave pending an internal investigation, but he resigned shortly after being put on leave.
Officers from the Coral Springs Department, who also responded to the shooting, voiced complaints that multiple Broward County Sheriff’s deputies never entered the building. The officers said that four Broward County deputies remained behind their vehicles with pistols drawn, but never joined them when they entered the building. The Coral Springs officers were “stunned” and “upset” about what they observed.
Two other deputies from the Broward County Sheriff’s Department have been placed on restricted duty due to their response to calls about the shooter before the shooting. Since 2008, CNN reports police had 23 calls involving the shooter. The two deputies placed on restricted duty responded to calls concerned that he could be a school shooter in the making. The deputies have been put on duty pending an investigation into whether they “could of” or “should have” done more in their response to those calls.
Local News
The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team won the Atlantic 10 regular season conference championship for the first time in program history on Friday night. The Rams beat the Dayton Flyers 81-56 to secure the regular season conference title. Jeff Dowtin, Jared Terrell and E.C. Matthews combined to score 55 points for the Rams. Rhode Island went 15-2 in the conference this season after Tuesday night’s loss to St. Joe’s 78-48. The Rams play their final game of the regular season on Friday night against the Davidson Wildcats in Davidson, North Carolina.
A 27-year-old man in neighboring Connecticut drove his car into a hospital emergency room and then lit himself on fire Thursday morning. The suspect, who has been identified as Steven Ellam, filled his car with several cans of gasoline and then proceeded to crash his car into the Middlesex Hospital Emergency Room. Ellam was taken to another hospital with severe burns to 90 percent of his body. A security guard was also taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation after he helped evacuate patients following the crash. No other injuries were reported.
Ellam had a long criminal history, according to police, which started when he was only 14 years old. Ellam had reportedly been arrested before for multiple assault charges, a hit-and-run, and drunken driving. Ellam live streamed his attack on Facebook Live. In the video, he claimed to be Jesus Christ, and said he was exposing Donald Trump as the anti-Christ protecting the illuminati. He said he believed the Illuminati had one of their headquarters in Middlesex Hospital, and that he was bringing “death to world order.”
National News
Former NFL player Jonathan Martin was arrested on Friday following a threatening message he posted on Instagram. Martin, who was severely bullied by teammates while on the Miami Dolphins, posted a picture of a shotgun with shells, accompanied by the caption, “When you’re a bully victim and a coward, your options are suicide or revenge.” Martin’s post caused his former High School in Florida to close for the day. Martin was arrested while attempting to check into a Los Angeles hospital, where he had gone to seek treatment for his mental state.
Hope Hicks, who is President Donald Trump’s communications director and one of his longest-serving advisors, announced Wednesday that she plans on resigning from her position. Trump is said to feel more comfortable with Hick’s than he is with many of his other advisors. Hick’s resignation came a day after she testified for eight hours to the House Intelligence Committee about the Russian meddling investigation. Hicks said she decided to leave her position because she “felt she had accomplished what she felt she could with the job,” according to what colleagues told the New York Times.
International News
The International Olympic Committee decided that Russia will not be able to march in uniform under their flag at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Games. The IOC’s decision came after two more Russian athletes were caught doping during the Pyeongchang Olympics. The athletes from Russia who were allowed to participate in the games were listed as “Olympic Athletes from Russia,” rather than being listed as the Russian Olympic team. This was due to the massive doping scandal from the previous Olympics.
A North Korean representative on a rare visit to South Korea said his country was willing to open talks with the United States. He said that Kim Jong Un wants to “improve ties with Washington” and “has ample intentions of holding talks” with the United States. According to NBC News, the representative said that relations between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the United States should go “hand in hand.” He said the United States and South Korea should meet to determine a solution between the two countries and North Korea. While some are in favor of peace talks, others fear that this is simply an attempt by North Korea to receive economic relief after more sanctions were placed upon the country.
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