Nobody is explaining why or how the Miami FBI was never forwarded a second tip about threats posed by Nikolas Cruz in January. Amazingly enough (especially in this administration), an official statement issued Friday morning owns up to what ended up being a fatal error on the Bureau’s part. 

On January 5, 2018, a person close to Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBI’s Public Access Line (PAL) tipline to report concerns about him. The caller provided information about Cruz’s gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

Under established protocols, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life. The information then should have been forwarded to the FBI Miami Field Office, where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken.

We have determined that these protocols were not followed for the information received by the PAL on January 5. The information was not provided to the Miami Field Office, and no further investigation was conducted at that time.

As the funerals for those lost in the Parkland massacre began today, emotions are already high; to learn that this specific tragedy might have possibly been thwarted just makes things worse.

Trump was quick to blame the people in Cruz’s orbit for not speaking up about their suspicions of the shooter. (The contrast to his defense of Rob Porter, and lives being shattered by “mere allegations,” is extra ironic today.)

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So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2018

Great advice, Prez, but people slip through the cracks constantly; we all know law enforcement doesn’t always get it right, whether it’s ignoring warning signs or going after the wrong people.