There are more calls this weekend from parents, students and lawmakers for stricter gun control laws in the wake of the latest school shooting.

A gunman opened fire Wednesday at a South Florida high school on Valentine's Day, killing at least 17 people in the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012.

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  • He has been identified as Nikolas Cruz, 19.

    Hundreds of people gathered Saturday evening in St. Petersburg, and more did the same in Fort Lauderdale to protest, mourn, reflect and demand action.

    "What we're hoping to accomplish is giving people a place to come and mourn and feel the loss that is devastating our community right now," said Lisa Perry of Women's March of Pinellas County.

    Those in St. Petersburg remembered the victims with a vigil, but that wasn't all.

    "Also to follow that with meaningful action, which is why after the vigil we are following up with a rally to demand sensible gun reform as well as accountability from the elected officials taking NRA contributions," Perry said.

    Cruz is expected to appear in court Monday, Feb. 19. Officials say he is willing to plead guilty in order to avoid the death penalty and avoid a trial.

    Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said the sheriff's office has received over a dozen calls about Cruz.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it received a tip from someone close to Cruz saying they were concerned about his violent tendencies.


    U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (left) was among those attending Saturday evening's events.

    The FBI never acted and according to FBI Director Christopher Wray, the information was never relayed to the Miami Field Office.

    Meanwhile, the rally in downtown Fort Lauderdale gave a political outlet to the growing feelings of rage and mourning sparked by the carnage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

    Authorities say Cruz had been expelled, had mental health issues and used a legally purchased semiautomatic rifle to kill students and staff.

    "Because of these gun laws, people that I know, people that I love, have died, and I will never be able to see them again," Delaney Tarr, a student at the school, told the crowd swamping the steps and courtyard at the federal courthouse.

    The crowd chanted: "Vote them out!" and held signs calling for action. Some read: "#Never Again," "#Do something now" and "Don't Let My Friends Die."

    Student Emma Gonzalez told the crowd politicians should stop taking donations from the National Rifle Association. "Shame on you," she yelled, and the crowd repeated her.

    "A lot of people are saying that these kids are activists, these kids need to be politicians,: she later told a reporter. "But a lot of us are just other students who figured there’s strength in numbers. And we want to be sure that we end up having our message sent across. And then we can get back to our normal everyday lives, you know."

    Laurie Woodward Garcia, the mother of a 14-year-old girl, echoed many in the crowd, who said they believed that this shooting would lead to change, though so many others had not.

    "If there's something that we can unite on as Democrats and Republicans and Independents, it's our children. So it will happen," she said.

    The Associated Press contributed to this story.