Sheriff: Suspect went to Subway, McDonald’s after school shooting

The suspect in the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday went to Subway and McDonald’s in the minutes after the shooting took place, before he was eventually apprehended by police, the local sheriff said. 

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters on Thursday afternoon that 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz hid among students fleeing the school after allegedly opening fire, killing 17 students and faculty and injuring more than a dozen others.

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“The suspect crossed fields and ran west, along with others who were fleeing, and tried to mix in with the group running away, who were fearing for their lives. The suspect arrived at the Walmart store, bought a drink at the Subway, and then left the Walmart on foot,” Israel said.

“The suspect went to McDonald’s, sat down for a short period of time — this was at 3:01 p.m. — and he left on foot,” the sheriff continued, adding that the suspect was detained 40 minutes after leaving the McDonald’s.

The police department’s comments Thursday follow a reported confession from Cruz, a former student at the high school, who allegedly told police that he “began shooting students that he saw in the hallways and on school grounds.”

The Associated Press reported that Cruz said he brought additional loaded magazines and kept them hidden in a backpack until he arrived on campus.

A Florida judge ruled Thursday that Cruz be held without bond on 17 counts of murder. 

Other news reports surfaced on Thursday claiming the FBI was warned last year about a school shooting threat from a YouTube user with the same name as Cruz.