Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jane Lavender

Mum's heartbreaking final act for daughter killed in deadliest ever school shooting

Two years ago today 14 school children and three of their teachers left home never to return.

They were the victims of America's deadliest ever school shooting when former student, Nikolas Cruz opened fire in the halls.

Cruz was dropped off Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida just after 2:15pm by an Uber and marched into the school.

After setting off the fire alarm, he started shooting indiscriminately at students and teachers.

During his six minute long killing spree, Cruz fired shots into four classrooms, killing 11, before climbing to the third floor and opening fire again.

Nikolas Cruz poses for a mugshot photo after being arrested in Florida (Getty Images)

 

He shot and killed six people in the hallway before dropping his gun and fleeing the building, which was in lockdown.

Cruz then calmly walked to a nearby mall, bought a soda and headed to a fast food restaurant before finally being stopped by the police two miles from the school.

He is now facing the death penalty.

But for the families and friends of those killed in the horrific shooting on Valentine's Day, 2018, the nightmare goes on.

Just over a year after the shooting, which killed 17 and seriously hurt another 17, two of the survivors took their own lives.

Anne Ramsay lost her daughter, Helena, in the shooting (Quest Red)

 

For Anne Ramsay, whose daughter, Helena, was one of the victims, her heartbreak has not eased.

Her 17-year-old daughter's room is exactly as she left it on the morning she "skipped out of the house".

And Anne can't help but relive her final moments with her beloved daughter.

She said: "It was Valentine's Day so I always put a little surprise in Helena's bag.

"I'd managed to get the cookie into her bag but it was one of those mornings where nothing was going right and we were behind in everything.

Helen was just 17 when she was shot dead by Cruz (Quest Red)

 

"As Helena ran out she shouted 'by mum, I love you' and ran out of the door to get a ride to school."

Anne had a special Valentine's tradition with her daughter. She would leave treats and surprises downstairs so Helena had something nice to wake up to.

But because the morning had been so rushed, Anne ran out of time and left them on Helena's bed, ready for when she got in from school.

But she never came home.

Anne said: "I said to her, 'when you get back I'll give you your Valentine's stuff'.

Anne had bought her daughter Valentine's gifts for when she came home (Quest Red)

 

"She skipped out to school as happy as can be and then she never came back."

The grieving mum has kept Helena's belongings exactly as they were two years ago.

Her clothes still hang in her wardobe, her Valentine's gifts are still on her bed and her washing is still on top of the tumble drier.

Helena's friend, Samantha Grady, was in the classroom when Cruz fired the shot that killed the schoolgirl.

She said: "I looked to my right and saw Helena and she didn't look good, she was turning blue.

Samantha describes the moment she realised her friend was dead (Quest Red)

 

"I knew what that meant but I didn't want to believe it. When the police came they were saying two people had died but I was trying to say they were wrong."

Other students Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, Martin Duque, 14, Nicholas Dworet, 17, Jaime Guttenberg, 14, Luke Hoyer, 15, Cara Loughran, 14, Gina Montalto, 14, Joaquin Oliver, 17, Alaina Petty, 14, Meadow Pollack, 18, Alex Schachter, 14, Carmen Schentrup, 16, and Peter Wang, 15, were also victims.

Geography teacher, Scott Beigel, 35, was killed when he unlocked a classroom so students could hide from the shooter.

Assistant football coach, Aaron Feis, 37, was gunned down as he tried to shield two students from Cruz and athletic director, Chris Nixon, 47, was killed as he ran towards the sound of gunfire as he tried to help fleeing students.

  • In Memoriam premieres at 11pm Saturday 15 February exclusively on Quest Red and dplay
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.