A teenager killed in the Florida high school shooting held the door open for classmates to escape the gunman before he died, the victim's family said.

Peter Wang was one of 17 people – including 14 students – shot dead by former pupil Nikolas Cruz at Marjory Stoneman Douglas School in the city of Parkland on Wednesday, police said.

The 15-year-old’s cousin, Aaron Chen, told The Miami Herald Peter was last seen holding a door open for terrified schoolchildren.

“He wasn’t supposed to die. He was supposed to grow old with me. Please share his story,” Aaron said.

Gabriel Ammirata, Peter’s best friend, told the newspaper he was “funny, nice and a great friend. He’s been my best friend since third grade”.

She said she planned to share Chinese New Year on Thursday evening with Peter’s parents, who were too upset to talk to media, at the family’s Chinese restaurant.

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“He is so brave,” said Lin Chen, another cousin of Peter’s who flew from Louisiana to be with the teenage boy’s family. “He is the person who is genuinely kind to everyone. He doesn’t care about popularity.”

She told the Sun Sentinel: “He always liked to cheer people up. He is like the big brother everyone wished they had.”

Ms Chen said Peter had two younger brothers, aged 11 and five. “I feel the family can never be the same,” she added.

Florida shooting – in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting – in pictures Florida shooting – in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting – in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting – in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting – in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting – in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting – in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

Alyssa Alhadeff, 15, Martin Duque, 14, Nicholas Dworet, 17, Jaime Guttenberg, 14, Luke Hoyer, 15, Cara Loughran, 14, Gina Montalto, 14, Joaquin Oliver, 17, Alaina Petty, 14, Meadow Pollack, 18, Helena Ramsey, 17, Helena Ramsey, 17, Alex Schachter, 14, and Carmen Schentrup, 16, were the other student victims of what is one of the worst school shootings in US history.