By: Michal Goldstein, Staff Writer
On Valentine’s Day this year, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida experienced a violent attack at their campus, ending in 17 staff and students dead and others wounded. At 19 years old, Nikolas Cruz entered his former high school with an AR-15 assault rifle, and took a number of lives in the deadliest school shooting in the US since 2012. Cruz is an orphan, who moved in with a friend’s family after his mother’s death in November of 2017, according to the family’s attorney. He was expelled from Stoneman Douglas last year for disciplinary reasons, and since then, attended an adult correctional school.
Though no one can really guess that a former student at their school could become a shooter, Cruz was definitely not the average kid. Students at Stoneman Douglas described Cruz as an “outcast” and said that he would often talk about “guns and knives”, though mostly relating to hunting. Cruz used smoke grenades to set off the fire alarms, causing students to run out of their classrooms and into the halls, giving him a clear shot on his targets. He ended up killing 17 people, and these are their names and their stories:
Alyssa Alhadeff, 14. A beloved friend of her school soccer team and her Jewish sleepaway summer camp. Her mother rushed to the school when she heard about the shooting, but was too late.
Scott Beigel, 35. This geography teacher was shot while bringing students into his classroom to protect them. One of his students says, “I am alive today because of him.” Scott died a hero.
Martin Duque Anguiano, 14. Martin’s brother, Miguel, describes him as "a very funny kid, outgoing, and sometimes really quiet. He was sweet and caring and loved by all his family. Most of all he was my baby brother."
Nicholas Dworet, 17. A senior, Nicholas was already confirmed to go to the University of Indianapolis. He was ready to start his future at college as a recruited swimmer to the freshman team.
Aaron Feis, 37. An assistant football coach, Feis died throwing himself in front of students to protect them from bullets. The football program’s spokeswoman said, “He died the same way he lived -- he put himself second. He was a very kind soul, a very nice man. He died a hero."
Jaime Guttenberg, 14. Her father said, “My heart is broken….Jennifer Bloom Guttenberg and I lost our baby girl to a violent shooting at her school. We lost our daughter and my son Jesse Guttenberg lost his sister.”
Chris Hixon, 49. The school athletic director, Hixon would give students rides and lunch money if it meant being able to help them out in any way he could.
Luke Hoyer, 15. His cousin described Luke as "an amazing individual. Always happy, always smiling. His smile was contagious, and so was his laugh.”
Cara Loughran, 14. A dancer, Cara was described by her dance school as a beautiful soul and always had a smile on her face."
Gina Montalto, 14. Gina was a member of the winter guard on the school’s marching band. After hearing the news, her aunt said: "I know somewhere in the heavens she's designing the latest and greatest trends and has her art book she always carried with her as well."
Joaquin Oliver, 17. His final social media post was a message to his girlfriend; “Thank you lord for putting a greater blessing than I could ever imagine into my life this past year,” he said. “I love you with all my heart.”
Alaina Petty, 14. Alaina volunteered after Hurricane Irma hit Florida and was part of the “Helping Hands” program of her church. Her family described her as “vibrant and determined”.
Meadow Pollack, 18. Her best friend writes, “Please say a prayer for the family of an amazing girl I got to call my best friend growing up Meadow Pollack ... her life was taken way too soon and I have no words to describe how this feels. Rest In Peace my beautiful angel. You are and forever will be loved."
Helena Ramsay, 17. A family member of Helena wrote that “he hopes others can be inspired by Helena's ‘life well lived, no matter how short.’”
Alex Schachter, 14. A participant in the school marching band and orchestra, Alex was described by the school’s director of bands as a boy with a very bright future in music.
Carmen Schentrup, 16. Carmen was a National Merit Scholar semifinalist. She was mourned in her whole community and social media.
Peter Wang, 15. His friend, Kelsey, and others said that he was shot holding a door open for other students to get to safety. Thousands have signed a White House petition that asks for Peter to be buried with military honors.
This is why gun control matters to me. I know these students’ names, and I’ve heard their stories. They are real people and deserved to continue a life past high school. Luckily, I’m not the only high schooler who identifies with this grief. Thousands of kids all around the United States have decided that they’ve had enough with these school shootings, and vow to not let it happen again. They are leading the conversation on gun control, and participating in walk-outs and marches to get our government to pay attention and do something, rather than solely send thoughts and prayers out to the victims’ families. Hopefully, these names and stories have helped to realize that this is not “just another shooting” and this time, students and teachers will not stand by and let it pass as if it is. Many Castilleja students have expressed interest in attending the March 14th walk-out and the March 24th protest, acts that will encourage a nationwide conversation on gun control that recognizes the lives lost and takes action to honor their heroic actions.
On Valentine’s Day this year, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida experienced a violent attack at their campus, ending in 17 staff and students dead and others wounded. At 19 years old, Nikolas Cruz entered his former high school with an AR-15 assault rifle, and took a number of lives in the deadliest school shooting in the US since 2012. Cruz is an orphan, who moved in with a friend’s family after his mother’s death in November of 2017, according to the family’s attorney. He was expelled from Stoneman Douglas last year for disciplinary reasons, and since then, attended an adult correctional school.
Though no one can really guess that a former student at their school could become a shooter, Cruz was definitely not the average kid. Students at Stoneman Douglas described Cruz as an “outcast” and said that he would often talk about “guns and knives”, though mostly relating to hunting. Cruz used smoke grenades to set off the fire alarms, causing students to run out of their classrooms and into the halls, giving him a clear shot on his targets. He ended up killing 17 people, and these are their names and their stories:
Alyssa Alhadeff, 14. A beloved friend of her school soccer team and her Jewish sleepaway summer camp. Her mother rushed to the school when she heard about the shooting, but was too late.
Scott Beigel, 35. This geography teacher was shot while bringing students into his classroom to protect them. One of his students says, “I am alive today because of him.” Scott died a hero.
Martin Duque Anguiano, 14. Martin’s brother, Miguel, describes him as "a very funny kid, outgoing, and sometimes really quiet. He was sweet and caring and loved by all his family. Most of all he was my baby brother."
Nicholas Dworet, 17. A senior, Nicholas was already confirmed to go to the University of Indianapolis. He was ready to start his future at college as a recruited swimmer to the freshman team.
Aaron Feis, 37. An assistant football coach, Feis died throwing himself in front of students to protect them from bullets. The football program’s spokeswoman said, “He died the same way he lived -- he put himself second. He was a very kind soul, a very nice man. He died a hero."
Jaime Guttenberg, 14. Her father said, “My heart is broken….Jennifer Bloom Guttenberg and I lost our baby girl to a violent shooting at her school. We lost our daughter and my son Jesse Guttenberg lost his sister.”
Chris Hixon, 49. The school athletic director, Hixon would give students rides and lunch money if it meant being able to help them out in any way he could.
Luke Hoyer, 15. His cousin described Luke as "an amazing individual. Always happy, always smiling. His smile was contagious, and so was his laugh.”
Cara Loughran, 14. A dancer, Cara was described by her dance school as a beautiful soul and always had a smile on her face."
Gina Montalto, 14. Gina was a member of the winter guard on the school’s marching band. After hearing the news, her aunt said: "I know somewhere in the heavens she's designing the latest and greatest trends and has her art book she always carried with her as well."
Joaquin Oliver, 17. His final social media post was a message to his girlfriend; “Thank you lord for putting a greater blessing than I could ever imagine into my life this past year,” he said. “I love you with all my heart.”
Alaina Petty, 14. Alaina volunteered after Hurricane Irma hit Florida and was part of the “Helping Hands” program of her church. Her family described her as “vibrant and determined”.
Meadow Pollack, 18. Her best friend writes, “Please say a prayer for the family of an amazing girl I got to call my best friend growing up Meadow Pollack ... her life was taken way too soon and I have no words to describe how this feels. Rest In Peace my beautiful angel. You are and forever will be loved."
Helena Ramsay, 17. A family member of Helena wrote that “he hopes others can be inspired by Helena's ‘life well lived, no matter how short.’”
Alex Schachter, 14. A participant in the school marching band and orchestra, Alex was described by the school’s director of bands as a boy with a very bright future in music.
Carmen Schentrup, 16. Carmen was a National Merit Scholar semifinalist. She was mourned in her whole community and social media.
Peter Wang, 15. His friend, Kelsey, and others said that he was shot holding a door open for other students to get to safety. Thousands have signed a White House petition that asks for Peter to be buried with military honors.
This is why gun control matters to me. I know these students’ names, and I’ve heard their stories. They are real people and deserved to continue a life past high school. Luckily, I’m not the only high schooler who identifies with this grief. Thousands of kids all around the United States have decided that they’ve had enough with these school shootings, and vow to not let it happen again. They are leading the conversation on gun control, and participating in walk-outs and marches to get our government to pay attention and do something, rather than solely send thoughts and prayers out to the victims’ families. Hopefully, these names and stories have helped to realize that this is not “just another shooting” and this time, students and teachers will not stand by and let it pass as if it is. Many Castilleja students have expressed interest in attending the March 14th walk-out and the March 24th protest, acts that will encourage a nationwide conversation on gun control that recognizes the lives lost and takes action to honor their heroic actions.