Florida high school shooting victim's father: 'Hold your children tight'

The father of one of the victim's of Wednesday's deadly mass shooting in Florida penned a heartbreaking Facebook post after learning of his daughter's tragic death.

Jamie Guttenberg, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was killed when suspected shooter Nikolas Cruz, 19, opened fire with an AR-15-styled semiautomatic rifle near the end of the school day.

Guttenberg's brother, Jesse, made it home safe from school that night. Her parents, Fred and Jennifer Guttenberg, were reportedly notified of her death on Wednesday evening.

After learning of his young daughter's death, Fred Guttenberg took to Facebook to share the heartbreaking news with his friends and loved ones.

"My heart is broken," he wrote. "Yesterday, Jennifer Bloom Guttenberg and I lost our baby girl to a violent shooting at her school. We lost our daughter and my son Jesse Guttenberg lost his sister."

Photo: Facebook

"I am broken as I write this trying to figure out how my family gets through this," he continued. "We appreciate all of the calls and messages and we apologize for not reacting to everyone individually."

"Hugs to all and hold your children tight," he ended his post.

At least 17 victims were confirmed dead after the attack, which is being reported as the 18th school shooting in America during this year alone by Everytown for Gun Safety.

According to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, the gunman set off a fire alarm before the horrific shooting, which prompted students to pour out of their classrooms into the hallways. "There the carnage began," Nelson told CNN.

Multiple survivors are currently being treated for bullet wounds and other injuries at local hospitals, five of whom are listed in critical condition, according to Reuters.

Cruz, the suspect in the mass shooting, has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder so far. If convicted, he may face the death penalty.