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Student Shot Five Times In Parkland Shooting Speaks Out Against Police

Student Shot Five Times In Parkland Shooting Speaks Out Against Police

Anthony Borges is nicknamed 'Iron Man' for his heroic behaviour

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A student who was shot five times during the Valentine's Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman-Douglas School has spoken out for the first time since the incident.

Anthony Borges was shot repeatedly by Nikolas Cruz whilst barricading a door closed to heroically help his friends escape the danger.

He was released from hospital last week after suffering serious injuries to his lungs, legs, and body.

He participated in a news conference two days later but was still too ill to talk. His attorney read out a statement on his behalf in which he criticised the police and in particular a policy of not arresting minor offenders on campus if they agree to attend rehabilitation.

The statement said: "I want to thank you for visiting me in the hospital. But I want to say that both of you failed us students and parents and teachers alike on so many levels.

"I want to ask you today to please end your policy and agreement that you will not arrest people committing crimes in our school.

"I want all of us to move forward and end the environment that allows people like Nikolas Cruz to fall through the cracks. You knew he was a problem years ago and you did nothing."

Anthony Borges, nicknamed 'Iron Man'.
PA

There were a number of complaints and calls made to the police about Cruz in the years that preceded his attack on the school that he had previously attended, reported Fox News.

He had also spent some time in a school for children with disciplinary and emotional problems before going to the Parkland, Florida school.

Cruz was also forced to leave the school in 2017 after many incidents that allegedly included the abuse of his then girlfriend and fighting with her new boyfriend.

In fact, in the weeks before the shooting the FBI and the Parkland Sheriff's office received a telephone call stating that he was going to commit a shooting at the school.

According to the news station, no action was taken to address this.

Nikolas Cruz.
PA

Borges, who earned the nickname 'Iron Man' for his bravery, continued his statement by encouraging the police to commit to ensuring greater safety in the area's schools.

It continued: "I know I've been called Iron Man and while I'm honoured to be called this, I am not.

"I am a 15-year-old that was shot five times while Broward sheriff's deputies waited outside and decided that they weren't going to come into the building,

"I ask you today to make a commitment to protect the students and teachers and provide a safe learning environment."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: School shooting, Florida, US News