On February 14, 2018, a gunman entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, opening fire with an AR-15-style rifle. The attack lasted roughly six minutes, resulting in one of the deadliest school massacres in modern American history. Seventeen people lost their lives, and another seventeen were severely wounded. Understanding who these students and staff members were helps shift the focus away from the perpetrator and honors the lives cut short.
The tragedy claimed the lives of fourteen students ranging in age from 14 to 18, alongside three faculty members who died protecting others. Official records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement documented the heavy toll on Building 12, where the majority of the shooting took place. Below is the complete accounting of the victims, their backgrounds, and the lasting legacy of resilience built by their families.
The Seventeen Lives Lost
Each person killed left behind tight-knit families, friends, and communities that continue to advocate for structural change. Their profiles reflect vibrant young people with distinct futures and dedicated educators who stayed at their posts.
Alyssa Alhadeff (14)
Alyssa was a dedicated freshman who captained her club soccer team and excelled in academics, particularly math and Spanish. Known for speaking her mind and standing up for others, her memory lives on through advocacy. Her mother, Lori Alhadeff, successfully campaigned for mandatory panic alert systems in Florida schools, a safety mandate widely known as Alyssa's Alert.
Scott Beigel (35)
Scott served as a geography teacher and the cross-country coach. He unlocked his classroom door to let fleeing students scramble inside to safety during the chaos. He was shot and killed while trying to lock the door behind them, making the ultimate sacrifice to shield children from harm.
Martin Duque Anguiano (14)
An immigrant from Mexico, Martin was a quiet, kind freshman and an avid football fan. He participated in the school's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program and was posthumously honored with a heroism medal by the U.S. Army alongside fellow cadets.
Nicholas Dworet (17)
Nick was a senior with a bright athletic future. An accomplished competitive swimmer, he had already accepted an athletic scholarship to swim at the University of Indianapolis, where he planned to major in finance. His younger brother survived the shooting and helps run family-backed water safety initiatives.
Aaron Feis (37)
Aaron wore multiple hats at Stoneman Douglas as an assistant varsity football coach and a security guard. An alumnus of the school, he ran directly toward the sound of gunfire to put himself between the shooter and vulnerable students. He was widely hailed across national news outlets as a definitive hero.
Jaime Guttenberg (14)
Jaime was a passionate dancer who loved hip-hop and tap, harboring dreams of becoming an occupational therapist. She was known for sticking up for peers who faced bullying. Her father, Fred Guttenberg, transitioned into a prominent national voice for gun safety reform following her death.
Christopher Hixon (49)
Chris served as the athletic director and wrestling coach. A U.S. Navy veteran who deployed to Iraq, he rushed into the building with a golf cart to search for injured students and pull them to safety. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Luke Hoyer (15)
Luke was a freshman who loved basketball and spending time with his large extended family. Relatives remembered him as a gentle, easygoing kid who brought joy to family gatherings and loved simple everyday routines.
Cara Loughran (14)
Cara was an Irish dancer who competed locally and performed with her dance academy. She loved spending time at the beach and helping out with younger children in her neighborhood.
Gina Montalto (14)
Gina was a dedicated member of the school's winter guard and marching band. She volunteered locally as a buddy for kids with special needs, remembered by instructors as exceptionally sweet-natured and artistic.
Joaquin Oliver (17)
Born in Venezuela, Joaquin moved to the United States as a child and became a U.S. citizen shortly before his death. An expressive artist and passionate basketball fan, his parents became active advocates for stricter background checks on firearm sales.
Alaina Petty (14)
Alaina participated actively in the JROTC program and volunteered extensively through her church. Just months prior to the shooting, she spent her weekends helping clean up communities devastated by Hurricane Irma.
Meadow Pollack (18)
Meadow was a senior just weeks away from graduation. She planned to attend Lynn University to study political science and law. Friends recalled her as a fierce protector of her friends with an infectious laugh.
Helena Ramsay (17)
Helena was a quiet, analytical student who earned top grades and planned to attend college to study engineering. Family members described her as deeply thoughtful, kind-hearted, and wise beyond her years.
Alexander Schachter (14)
Alex played the trombone in the school marching band. His father, Max Schachter, became a prominent school safety advocate, working alongside federal agencies to design better architectural security standards for educational buildings nationwide.
Carmen Schentrup (16)
Carmen was a brilliant student who was named a National Merit Scholar semifinalist. She played piano and aspired to become a medical researcher focused on finding a cure for ALS.
Peter Wang (15)
Peter was a student leader in the school's JROTC program. During the shooting, he held a heavy fire door open so that dozens of his classmates could escape ahead of him. He was posthumously accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point.
The Wounded and Surviving Impact
Beyond the seventeen individuals who died, another seventeen students and staff members sustained serious gunshot wounds. Individuals like Anthony Borges—who was shot multiple times while trying to lock a classroom door to protect his peers—spent months undergoing complex surgeries and rehabilitation. The psychological recovery for hundreds of students present in Building 12 required extensive community health infrastructure, reshaping how school districts approach trauma-informed support.
Policy Shifts and Institutional Change
The tragedy catalyzed substantial legislative updates across Florida and the United States. In March 2018, the state passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which implemented several key provisions:
- Raised the minimum legal age to purchase long guns and rifles from 18 to 21.
- Established a mandatory three-day waiting period for all firearm purchases.
- Created the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, allowing trained school staff to carry concealed weapons under strict local oversight.
- Mandated silent panic alert buttons tied directly to local emergency dispatch services via Alyssa's Alert.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Parkland high school shooting happen?
The attack occurred on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, shortly before dismissal time at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Who was responsible for the attack?
Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student who had been expelled for disciplinary infractions, carried out the shooting. In October 2022, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
How many people were injured?
In addition to the 17 fatalities, 17 other students and staff members sustained documented gunshot wounds and survived after receiving emergency medical treatment.
What lasting safety measures were implemented after the shooting?
States nationwide adopted stricter red-flag laws, enhanced physical access controls on school campuses, and integrated silent alarm software to accelerate law enforcement response times during active threats.
