PARKLAND, Fla. — The athletic director of the south Florida high school school where a teenage gunman went on a deadly rampage Wednesday is among the fatal victims, a family friend told The Post Thursday.

Chris Hixon, 49, the athletic director of Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, was shot when a gun-obsessed formerly expelled teenage student went on the afternoon shooting rampage, killing 17.

A family friend who confirmed the death of Hixon, a married father, called it “terrible.”

Reports that Hixon was shot came out Wednesday night, but his condition was not immediately known.

A GoFundMe account had been set up for Hixon, who served as a US Naval Reservist in 2007.

“Mr. Hixon, your support of our school’s athletic teams was unwavering especially for your favorite swimmers and water polo players! I want to do anything I can for this family,” the account set up by Veronica Sitaras read.

Friends and former students mourned the death of Hixon, who was previously South Broward High School’s athletic director before he took over at Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

Former South Broward student Becky Van Horn told The Post Thursday that Hixon “had an excellent sense of humor.”

“He never had an air of judgment and there’s a lot to be said for the way he treated people like they were equal, especially the students,” Van Horn said.

Van Horn added: “When I found out about his service to our country, it kind of shocked me that this unassuming man had that in him, but that isn’t what makes him a hero in my eyes.”

“His sacrifice goes beyond the battlefield,” she said. “He gave his life doing something remarkable – educating and helping to mold countless amounts of young people.”

Maniacal gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, was arrested without incident following the carnage. He was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

Additional reporting by Natalie Musumeci

Related Video