After one day of deliberations, the jury has reached a verdict in the penalty trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz. Follow for the latest.
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After deliberating for one day, the jury has reached a verdict in the penalty trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz, the 24-year-old who carried out the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018.
Cruz pleaded guilty last fall to killing 17 people in the shooting. A 12-person jury was tasked to decide whether Cruz will face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments on Tuesday, winding down a trial that started in mid-July.
During closing arguments, lead prosecutor Michael Satz told jurors the death penalty is “the appropriate sentence” for Cruz, while defense attorney Melissa McNeill argued that the choice they will make will be a “moral decision.”
Several former students and teachers who were at the school on the day of the shooting, including some who were injured by gunfire, testified. The jury was also shown surveillance footage and cell phone videos recorded during the shooting.
