Florida shooting: Sheriff's disgust after learning colleague did 'nothing' as gunman massacred school children

A sheriff has described his disgust after learning one of his colleagues did “nothing” as a rampaging gunman opened fire on children and teachers at a Florida school.

The armed school resource officer, who has since been suspended, took up a tactical position at an entrance of the building that was under attack but “he never went in”, police said.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel placed the officer under investigation and suspended him without pay after it emerged he was idle while shooter Nicolas Cruz, 19, carried out the horrifying massacre.

When asked what officer Scot Peterson was expected to do, Sheriff Israel said he should have “went in, addressed the killer, killed the killer.”

He said there was footage of the man outside the building making no effort to stop the gunman. Police have refused to release the video.

Sheriff Israel added that he was “devastated, sick to my stomach” at the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 students and teachers dead.

He said Mr Peterson was suspended after video footage emerged showing that the officer failed to act while the teenager killer opened fire on children and teachers.

Asked by a reporter what the officer, who has since resigned, appeared to be doing in the footage, Sheriff Israel said: “nothing”.

He said the video footage will not be released at this time, and that it may never be made publicly available.

As he gave updates on the police investigation at a press conference on Thursday, he added: “There are no words. I mean these families lost their children. I've been to the funerals. I've been to the vigils. There are no words.”

Cruz has been jailed on 17 counts of murder and has admitted the attack.

Defence lawyers, state records and people who knew him indicate that he displayed behavioural troubles for years and he is known to have had a collection of weapons.

The attack has reignited national debate over gun laws and school safety, including proposals by president Donald Trump to trained teachers to carry firearms on school grounds.