The Broward County Sheriff deputies who reportedly did not enter the school building during a deadly massacre may have been ordered not to, a new report claims.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, School Resource Deputy Scot Peterson resigned on Thursday following an internal review that found the armed officer assigned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School never entered the building where Nikolas Cruz had opened fire, ultimately killing 17 people. Over the weekend, further reports emerged claiming that three additional Broward County Sheriff deputies arrived to the scene of the shooting but remained next to their squad cars instead of entering the building where the gun massacre was taking place. Officers from the Coral Springs Police Department reportedly arrived a short time later, along with additional sheriff deputies, and entered the building — but Cruz may have already left the scene by that time.
On Monday night, Fox News host Laura Ingraham claimed on her show “The Ingraham Report” that Broward County Sheriff deputies were directed not to enter the school building unless their body cameras were turned on. Citing multiple unnamed sources “near the Broward County Sheriff’s Office,” the report claimed that the deputies weren’t wearing body cameras at all.
Another Fox News report claimed that EMT responders were told not to enter the school, despite requesting to go in. The Broward County Sheriff department reportedly told the paramedics to remain outside of the building.
“What’s going to come out is, in the communications on several circumstances, there was the request to enter the request was denied from Broward County,” one official told Fox News.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report with a statement.
“There are multiple investigations being conducted in addition to the Stoneman Douglas shooting. Investigators will not be rushed or asked to jump to conclusions.”
“Their investigations are thorough and methodical as they take and compare witness statements, review dozens of incident reports, transcribe and analysis numerous radio transmissions, listen to more than 80 911 calls.”
CrimeOnline contacted the Broward County Sheriff by phone, and we were told to send our request for comment via email. The department has not yet responded to the request.
[Feature image: Associated Press]
