Former FBI Agent Breaks Down After Florida School Shooting: "We Cannot Accept This"

A former FBI agent and counterterrorism analyst for CNN broke down during an interview about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, on Feb. 14. Philip Mudd was speaking with Wolf Blitzer when he was suddenly and unexpectedly overcome with emotion while talking about the tragic incident that has claimed 17 lives as of press time.

Despite years of experience at the FBI, Mudd said hearing the news of a shooting or attack never gets easier. "You think it's antiseptic. It's not," he said. Mudd then shared an anecdote about a terrorist he once spoke with who was maimed after being sent to blow up a car bomb on behalf of ISIS and Al-Qaeda as an example of the types of difficult stories he is used to hearing.

Returning to the subject of the recent shooting, Mudd said, "I have 10 nieces and nephews," and insinuated that legislative action needs to be made. Mudd added, "A child of God is dead. Can not we acknowledge in this country that we cannot accept this." Through tears, the former FBI agent apologized and said, "I can't do it, Wolf."

Giving Mudd some time to collect himself, Blitzer promptly ended the interview and said, "Obviously, this is so emotional. Unfortunately, it happens all too often." The incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School brings the number of school shootings in the nation in 2018 to 18.