Lauren Mia Zaa
The daughter of Colombian singer Charlie Zaa recalled how she survived the terrifying moments lived during the February 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Screenshot/YouTube/Primer Impacto

Lauren Mia Sanchez, the daughter of Colombian singer Charlie Zaa, recalled how she survived the February 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. During an interview with "Primer Impacto," the student condemned the fact that "it's easier to get a gun than a bottle of liquor."

The 16-year-old survived the shooting perpetrated by Nikolas Cruz thanks to Scott Beigel, the selfless geography teacher who sacrificed his own life to prevent more students from dying. Sanchez reported that she was on the stairs of the school when the gunman attacked, killing a total of 17 people, and injuring more than a dozen.

"I didn't know what to do, I simply went back to the classroom, where we hid between a desk and a closet," said the Colombian student, adding that from her hiding place she sent text and a voice messages to her mother explaining the situation.

With the intention of saving more lives, her teacher was opening the classroom door to more students who were looking for a shelter to escape the bullets, but when he opened the door once more he received several shots.

"We know he is a hero, he sacrificed himself for us, opened the door once more to try to save more people, he did not succeed but he managed to save 16," said Mia. "It's not fair that he lost his life for us, he was the best teacher I've ever had, he conveyed a lot of joy and love, I learned a lot from him."

"Today is a very difficult day for many families in Florida, I want to honor the memory of this #HERO #Mrbeigel I will never find enough words to thank what he did for our children. Mr. Beigel gave his life to save theirs, that alone is worthy of a HERO, today the heart of my daughter is dismayed crying his departure, but at the same time with the certainty that he is in the presence of our Lord," wrote another student on his Instagram account.

After being expelled from school for disciplinary reasons, according to Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz perpetrated one of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in the modern history of the United States at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School located in Parkland, Florida.

CNN reported that the FBI was warned in September about a possible school shooting threat from a YouTube user. "I'm going to be a professional school shooter," read the comment, left by a user with the name Nikolas Cruz. The comment was found by YouTube video blogger, Ben Bennight, 36, on a video he'd posted. FBI Special Agent in Charge, Robert Lasky, addressed the comment left on YouTube during a press conference on Thursday morning, informing that nothing else was found. Nearly five months later, Cruz attacked with a gun style AR-15 caliber .223, and reportedly he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

The suspect was found outside the campus, after leaving school, captured and admitted to the hospital to later be discharged. He is currently in custody and in a press conference, Sheriff Scott Israel said Cruz "has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder."

Even though it’s only February, many shootings have happened so far in 2018 in the United States. Florida Governor Rick Scott said “we want to make sure this never happens again,” in the press conference. Scott added he will have a “real conversation” on school safety.

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