A Florida sheriff says the deputy who was on duty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 people were massacred waited outside the building for about four minutes without ever going in.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel announced during a Thursday news conference that Deputy Scot Peterson resigned after being suspended without pay.

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Israel said he made the decision after reviewing video surveillance and interviewing witnesses, including the deputy himself. The sheriff says Peterson responded to the building where the shooting took place, took up a position outside a door and never went in.

"Devastated, sick to my stomach, there are no words," Israel said.

"These families lost their children, we lost coaches. I've been to the funerals. I've been to the homes where they're sitting shiva. I've been to the vigils. It's just, there are no words."

When asked what Peterson should have done, Israel said the deputy should have "went in, addressed the killer, killed the killer."

Two other resource officers were placed on administrative duties as well in relation to the incident.

Authorities say 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz fatally shot 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 14.