Jailed school shooter praises Florida student activists

A convicted school shooter has praised the survivors of last month's attack in Parkland, Florida, for their efforts in support of gun controls in the US.

Jon Romano, then 16, entered his New York high school in 2004 with a pump-action shotgun, but was disarmed by his principal before he could kill anyone.

Student survivors from the school have already lobbied at the state capital in Tallahassee

In a letter to a local newspaper sent from prison, Romano labelled the students "courageous and inspiring". Since the shooting, many of the survivors have lobbied for change.

After 17 were killed at their school, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have publically lobbied lawmakers for policy change. They have organised a march on Washington that will take place later this month.


One teacher was injured when Jon Romano opened fire on 9 Feb 2004 at Columbia High School in Greenbush, New York.

He was convicted of attempted murder and reckless endangerment after the incident.

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Romano, now 30, was responding to an interview in the Times Union newspaper with his former principal, John Sawchuk.