File Photo: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a brief statement to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 2, 2018. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the outcome of the intra-Syria talks in Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, saying Russia kept its word that the Sochi talks would be a contribution to the UN-led Geneva process. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote to U.S. senior officials on Thursday to express his profound sadness at the "horrific gun massacre" that took place on Wednesday at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

He wrote to Florida Governor Rick Scott and to Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, to express his sadness, Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a daily news briefing.

"It is wrenching to see so many young lives cut short -- in a place where students should feel safe -- as well as so many families torn apart, and yet another community thrown into shock," Dujarric quoted the secretary-general as writing.

"At this time of profound sorrow, we at the United Nations wish to say that our thoughts are with all those touched by this tragedy."

Seventeen people were killed as a 19-year-old former student opened fire at students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.