Demolition work begins on the Parkland school building where a shooting left 17 dead

Six years ago, Building 1200 of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, was the scene of carnage, shattered dreams and despair when a gunman opened fire, killing 17 people in 2018.

Demolition of the building finally began on Friday, attracting onlookers, including family members of some of the victims who died when 25-year-old Nikolaz Cruz opened fire in one of the worst school massacres in U.S. history.

They watched as an excavator tore up the three-story building, the Associated Press reported.

The families of the victims were invited to watch the demolition and even had the opportunity to cut off a piece of the building themselves, AP reported.

“I would like to get rid of it,” said Dylan Persuad, who lost seven friends and his teacher Scott Beigel in the shooting, according to the Associated Press. “It puts a full stop to the end of history. They should put a nice memorial there for the 17.”

Broward County Public Schools said in a statement that they aim to complete the project in the next few weeks before students return to school in August.

The building was empty because it was being considered as evidence during Cruz’s sentencing hearing, AP reported.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, thus avoiding the death penalty.

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In a statement, Broward County Public Schools said they began demolition “immediately after” the end of the school year.

“Broward County Public Schools made this decision after consulting with health and safety experts and out of concern for the well-being of students and staff on campus,” the press release said.

Community members and parents who lost loved ones that day are happy that the building is being demolished.

“It’s important that the building be torn down so that not only I but the community as a whole can heal,” said Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa, 14, died in the shooting. The New York Times“This building commemorates the terrible tragedy in which 17 people were murdered in the school.”