(BROWARD COUNTY, FLA) — The Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooter’s death penalty trial continues in a Broward County courtroom today.
After more than four years, Nikolas Jacob Cruz, 23, is now sitting through countless witnesses who all have something to say about his horrific deeds on Valentine’s Day 2018.
Cruz pleaded guilty last year to opening fire with a semiautomatic rifle at MSG High School in Parkland, Florida.
Cruz killed 17 people, students and educators and this week their family members are telling the jury the impact Cruz’s actions have had on their families and lives.
In fact, the defense attorneys were brought to tears during the gut-wrenching impact statements.
The shooter killed 14-year-old student Alyssa Alhadeff, 35-year-old teacher Scott Beigel, 14-year-old student Martin Duque Anguiano, 17-year-old student Nicholas Dworet, 37-year-old assistant football coach Aaron Feis, 14-year-old student Jaime Guttenberg, 49-year-old athletic director Christopher Hixon, 15-year-old student Luke Hoyer, 14-year-old student Cara Loughran, 14-year-old student Gina Montalto, 17-year-old student Joaquin Oliver, 14-year-old student Alaina Petty, 18-year-old student Meadow Pollack, 17-year-old student Helena Ramsay, 14-year-old student Alexander Schachter, 16-year-old student Carmen Schentrup, and 15-year-old student Peter Wang. Charges were 17 counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
Jurors must decide whether Cruz will get death, or serve life without the possibility of parole.
He apologized at his plea hearing last year then railed against drugs.
From his statement: “I am very sorry for what I did, and I have to live with it everyday, and that if I were to get a second chance, I would do everything in my power to try to help others, and I am doing this for you, and I do not care if you do not believe me, and I love you, and I know you don’t believe me, but I have to live with this every day, and it brings me nightmares, and I can’t live with myself sometimes, but I try to push through because I know that’s what you guys would want me to do. I hate drugs, and I believe this country would do better if everyone would stop smoking marijuana and doing all these drugs and causing racism and violence out in the streets. I’m sorry, and I can’t even watch TV anymore, and I’m trying my best to maintain my composure, and I just want you to know I’m really sorry, and I hope you give me a chance to try to help others. I believe it’s your decision to decide where I go, whether I live or die, not the jury’s. I believe it’s your decision. I’m sorry.”