Susan Stocker/Reuters
Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old man who confessed to killing 17 people at a Florida high school this week, left a trail of racist comments and threats of violence in a private Instagram chat group, CNN reports. After joining the group in August 2017, Cruz reportedly talked about killing Mexicans, keeping blacks chained up, and suggested gays should be shot “in the back of the head.” He also reportedly railed against Jewish people and white women in interracial relationships in the group, named “Murica (American flag emoji) (eagle emoji) great.” Cruz left hints about his plans to commit a shooting, posting a video of himself shooting a rifle out a window and discussing his plans to buy body armor. When asked by another member of the group about his interest in body armor, Cruz said he was curious because “school shooters.” At one point, he blatantly said, “I think I am going to kill people” before dismissing the comment as a joke, according to CNN. Cruz also bragged about sending a letter to President Donald Trump and receiving a response, though that claim has not been confirmed.