Online comments reveal Florida gunman Nikolas Cruz idolized Santa Barbara shooter Elliot Rodger

Posts from Nikolas Cruz, the Florida gunman who open fire his old high school yesterday, reveal he praised Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old who opened fire on students in Santa Barbara in 2014.

"Elliot Rodger will not be forgotten," Cruz wrote on YouTube.

Elliot Rodger is widely praised by an online community called "incels" – men who are involuntarily celibate. It is a group with violent views towards women, known for bragging about sexual assault and fantasizing about rape and disfiguring the women who won't sleep with them.

Rodger shot and killed six people in 2014, and injured 14 others. He was driven by incel ideology, and before the massacre wrote: "One day incels will realize their true strength and numbers, and will overthrow this oppressive feminist system. Start envisioning a world where WOMEN FEAR YOU."

Incels have called Nikolas Cruz, who killed 19 in Broward County, Florida, a "hero" and "man of the year."

"My dream is to be Nikolas Cruz!" said one user.

They have also identified a post on anonymous messaging board 4Chan that they say was from Cruz shortly before he began the massacre.

The post says:

"I WILL SHOWER THE NORMIES WITH LELAD TONIGHT. GIVE ME SOMETHING TO PUMP AND BLAST UP TO"

It adds:

"FUCK YOUR SCHOOL I'LL FUCK YOU UP FUCK OFF UCKING FUCK FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK FUCKING NORMIE NIGGERS GET THE FUCK OUT"

Posters on the site then congratulate who they think is Cruz for "delivering."

More to follow.

@hshukman