PARKLAND, Fla. — Students who lived through the trauma that unfolded inside Building 12 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School say seeing that building every day is one of the toughest parts of going to school.
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Because of that pain, the building is supposed to eventually be demolished, but it could be awhile before that happens.
Building 12 is currently fenced off, surrounded by banners. It won’t ever be open to students again but it is still standing because it’s considered evidence for a jury.
While it stands, it offers a constant reminder to those who witnessed the horror firsthand within its walls.
Maddie Zeltwanger, 15, was in room 1216 on the first floor of Building 12 when the shooting happened.
She hid from gunshots behind her teacher’s desk, but eight other people in her classroom where shot. Three of those shooting victims died: Alyssa Alhadeff, Alaina Petty and Alex Schachter.
Zeltwanger hates seeing the building when she comes to school every day, but the state attorney’s office says it holds critical evidence and needs to stand until the accused shooter’s trial to allow the jury to walk through it.
Right now, the trial is proposed for later this year.
“Just walking around knowing what it looks like in that building right now that everything is still the same as we left it. It’s just a mess and it really messes with your brain,” said Zeltwanger.
Even if the case is appealed, the state attorney’s office plans to clear the building for demolition. Twenty-five million dollars is already allocated to replace the building through the State Legislature in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.