The suspect has been identified as  Nikolas Cruz. He has been taken into custody.

He is a former student of the school.

BSO Joy, Public Information Officer at Broward County Sheriff's Office tweeted: " suspect’s name is spelled Nikolas Cruz #StonemanShooting."

"I'm saddened to say that 17 people lost their lives," Sheriff Scott Israel told media.

"It's catastrophic. There really are no words," the Sheriff said.

Scott Israel told media that the suspect had killed three people outside the school campus and then entered the building to kill another 12.

Israel said two people later died in the hospital. 

Broward Schools tweeted, "Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will be closed Thursday, February 15 and Friday, February 16, 2018, (for the rest of this week). All school activities are also cancelled."

President Donald Trump has condoled the loss of lives in the incident.

"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," Trump tweeted.

Images: Twitter and Wikipedia