The three-story building where the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School occurred will soon be demolished after serving as evidence at the murderer’s trial. This building has been a constant and horrific reminder to students, teachers, the victims’ families, and passersby. Crews will begin bringing it down piece by piece to avoid damaging nearby structures through implosion. The demolition process is expected to be completed before the school’s 3,300 students return from summer vacation in August. Most of the current students were in elementary school at the time of the shooting, making the building a chilling reminder of that tragic day.
Victims’ families have been invited to witness the demolition of the building and even take home a piece if they wish. While some families, like Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter died in the shooting, welcome the demolition as a step in the healing process, others hoped the building would be preserved. Over the last year, parents and community leaders have led tours of the building to demonstrate how improved safety measures could have saved lives, including bullet-resistant glass and better alarm systems. While these tours have been gut-wrenching for participants, they have sparked positive changes in school safety measures and laws in other states.
Broward is not the only community to demolish a school building after a mass shooting. Similar actions have been taken in Connecticut and Texas following tragic events. The Broward school board has not yet decided what will replace the demolished building but teachers have suggested a practice field for student groups and a memorial linked by a landscaped pathway. Some families would like to see a memorial built on the site and replace the previous one that they believe was only meant to be temporary. The decision on what will replace the building is still pending.
The building, which was built about 20 years ago, could not be demolished earlier due to its use as evidence in trials related to the shooting. Jurors were shown the building during the shooter’s 2022 trial, causing emotional difficulties for some. The shooter, who received a sentence of life without parole, had a history of violent behavior that had been documented by Broward sheriff’s deputies. Despite requests to tour the building during other trials related to the shooting, these requests were rejected as prejudicial. Families and survivors continue to seek justice through lawsuits against the responsible parties.
Many see the demolition of the building as a step in the healing process for the community, allowing them to move forward from the tragic events of February 2018. While the building has been a haunting reminder of that day, its removal will hopefully help students, teachers, and families to begin the process of healing and recovery. The decision on what will replace the building is still pending, with suggestions including memorials and practice fields for student groups. As the community looks towards the future, they hope that the demolition of this building will bring closure and allow for positive change moving forward.
