Parkland shooting

2022 - 10 - 13

Nikolas Cruz Nikolas Cruz

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Image courtesy of "Tampa Bay Times"

Victims' families upset with Parkland school shooter sentence (Tampa Bay Times)

Prosecutors sought the death penalty for the now-24-year-old who killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, and injured ...

• The Lee district announced it would [reopen another 15 schools](https://www.news-press.com/story/weather/hurricane/2022/10/13/lee-county-schools-reopening-monday-after-hurricane-ian/10487016002/) next week, bringing the total to 29% of its 98 campuses, the Fort Myers News-Press reports. [has begun crafting guidelines](https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida-department-of-education-begins-crafting-standards-around-dont-say-gay-law-32676132) to help schools implement new law on teaching about sexual identity and gender orientation, the News Services of Florida reports. Critics of UF’s presidential search complained it didn’t meet the Legislature’s intent on transparency. The Dr. The University of Florida received its largest individual donation ever. The board gave the superintendent a chance to revise the job description and salary range. Will you join them? About 1,800 students statewide have received a scholarship since the program’s inception. • The State Board of Education will consider a rule to [revoke the certification](https://weartv.com/news/local/florida-plans-to-revoke-teaching-licenses-for-those-who-discuss-sexual-orientation) of teachers who violate the law, WEAR reports. The defense raised mitigating circumstances in hopes of avoiding capital punishment. “I feel like I’m having a mental breakdown,” Bailey Spotz I just don’t understand.”

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Parkland families outraged as shooter spared death sentence, jury ... (CBS News)

The Florida man responsible for the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history now faces life in prison more than four years after the massacre.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Parkland prosecutors ask for an investigation after a juror says she ... (CNN)

Prosecutors in the Nikolas Cruz Parkland shooting case are calling for law enforcement to interview a juror who said they felt threatened by another juror ...

“I just want him to know that I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of watching me suffer,” she said. The deliberations became “tense,” a juror wrote in the handwritten letter addressed to Scherer. “The wrong verdict was given out today.” “What do we have the death penalty for?” The prosecution rested their case after jurors were taken to tour the Thursday, a juror wrote a letter to the judge calling the deliberations “tense,” saying some jurors became “extremely unhappy” when she mentioned she’d vote for life in prison. “The State did not call Juror X back and instead, filed a Notice to the Court.” When making their decision, jurors weighed the aggravating factors presented by prosecutors against mitigating circumstances laid out by Cruz’s defense team, who argued that aspects of his birth and upbringing warranted a lesser punishment. And there was another two that ended up voting the same way,” Thomas said. Because Cruz pleaded guilty to all counts, the trial phase was skipped and the court went directly to the sentencing phase. And in an interview, the jury foreman described disagreement among the jury, saying three of the 12 jurors opposed the death penalty in this case. The state’s new motion asks Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer to compel law enforcement officers to interview the juror who reported feeling threatened.

Families of Parkland school shooting victims are lashing out after ... (WLRN)

Families of the 17 people killed in the 2018 attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., are angry about the jury's decision to spare ...

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Image courtesy of "Peoples Gazette"

Florida jury spares life of Parkland shooter responsible for 17 deaths ... (Peoples Gazette)

The jury of seven men and five women sentenced Mr Cruz to life in prison without the possibility of parole for all 17 first-degree murder counts. On Thursday, ...

We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages. [Lagos](https://gazettengr.com/lagosians-around-lekki-to-enjoy-100mw-of-electricity-ekedc/) [Lagosians around Lekki to enjoy 100mw of electricity: EKEDC](https://gazettengr.com/lagosians-around-lekki-to-enjoy-100mw-of-electricity-ekedc/) If even one juror dissents, the death penalty is discarded, and the defendant will be handed down a life sentence without parole. [Education](https://gazettengr.com/fg-yet-to-address-our-demands-says-asuu/) [FG yet to address our demands, says ASUU](https://gazettengr.com/fg-yet-to-address-our-demands-says-asuu/) He escaped the scene, blending in with fleeing students but was arrested later that day. His sentencing trial spanned over three months as the jury heard arguments for and against recommending the death penalty.

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Image courtesy of "WPBF West Palm Beach"

3 jurors voted for Parkland school shooter to spend life in prison ... (WPBF West Palm Beach)

Jurors recommended life in prison for the Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz Thursday after the final vote for the death penalty was not unanimous.

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Image courtesy of "KFSN-TV"

Parkland shooting verdict: Juror says she was threatened by 'fellow ... (KFSN-TV)

A Parkland school shooting trial juror said a fellow juror threatened her. Shooter Nikolas Cruz avoided the death penalty, leaving parents shocked.

"I just want him to know that I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of watching me suffer," she said. "The wrong verdict was given out today." "What do we have the death penalty for?" The judge is expected to issue the gunman's formal sentence on November 1 and by law is unable to deviate from the jury's recommendation of life. But several families were insistent that the jury's decision does not deliver them peace. The juror, who ultimately voted against the death penalty, wrote that "some jurors became extremely unhappy once I mentioned that I would vote for life (in prison)." "The State did not call Juror X back and instead, filed a Notice to the Court." When making their decision, jurors weighed the aggravating factors presented by prosecutors against mitigating circumstances laid out by Cruz's defense team, who argued that aspects of his birth and upbringing warranted a lesser punishment. And there was another two that ended up voting the same way," said Thomas. Thursday, a juror wrote a letter to the judge calling the deliberations "tense" and denying an accusation she heard that she had made up her mind to support a life sentence before the trial began. The motion is the latest indication of behind-the-scenes tension among the jury. The state's motion asks Judge Elizabeth Scherer to compel law enforcement officers to interview the juror.

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Image courtesy of "WPLG Local 10"

Juror claims she was threatened by fellow juror in Parkland school ... (WPLG Local 10)

Prosecutors filed a motion Thursday asking the court to authorize law enforcement to interview a juror in the Parkland case who called them to say she was ...

“I didn’t vote that way, so I’m not happy with how it worked out, but everybody has the right to decide for themselves,” he said. The deliberations were very tense and some jurors became extremely unhappy once I mentioned that I would vote for life.” Thursday and requested to speak with Assistant State Attorney Michael Satz, who led the prosecution team in the case. [Foreman Benjamin Thomas](https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/10/13/parkland-trial-jurors-answer-questions-following-decision-not-to-execute-confessed-gunman/), a gun owner who works in IT, said he voted for the death penalty. [they returned a life in prison verdict ](https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/10/13/day-2-of-verdict-watch-jurors-wait-to-view-parkland-school-shooters-rifle-after-bso-denial/)for the Parkland school shooter. [handwritten letter from juror number 12 was received by the court.](https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/10/13/parkland-school-shooter-verdict-jurors-letter-to-judge-reveals-tense-deliberations/) She recounted a conversation she had with juror 8 in the courthouse parking lot.

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Image courtesy of "Wisconsin Public Radio News"

A juror in the Parkland shooting case says she felt threatened by ... (Wisconsin Public Radio News)

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz reacts at his trial in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday. South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool ...

Will it change outcomes?](/repeal-abortion-rights-wisconsin-reshaped-2022-political-campaigns-will-it-change-outcomes) 6, Mandela Barnes turns Senate campaign focus to Capitol insurrection](/congressional-hearing-jan-6-mandela-barnes-turns-senate-campaign-focus-capitol-insurrection) [The repeal of abortion rights in Wisconsin reshaped 2022 political campaigns. 6, Mandela Barnes turns Senate campaign focus to Capitol insurrection](/congressional-hearing-jan-6-mandela-barnes-turns-senate-campaign-focus-capitol-insurrection) [Clean energy jobs rebounding in Wisconsin after COVID-19 declines, but still below pre-pandemic levels](/clean-energy-jobs-rebounding-wisconsin-after-covid-19-declines-still-below-pre-pandemic-levels) [The repeal of abortion rights in Wisconsin reshaped 2022 political campaigns.

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

A juror in the Parkland shooting case says she felt threatened by ... (NPR)

Prosecutors in the case of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz are calling for an investigation after a juror said she felt threatened by another member of ...

"The deliberations were very tense and some jurors became extremely unhappy once I mentioned that I would vote for life," Cunha wrote. Jury foreman Benjamin Thomas told local reporters that three jurors voted for life on the final ballot. The motion calls for law enforcement to interview the unnamed juror after she told the state attorney's office "she perceived to be a threat from a fellow juror while in the jury room." In the end, the jury could not agree that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating ones, so Cruz will get life without parole. Relatives, along with the students and teachers Cruz wounded, will be given the opportunity to speak. Under Florida law, a death sentence requires a unanimous vote on at least one count.

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

"This jury failed our families" Families of Parkland school shooting ... (CBS News)

A father whose teen daughter was killed called the jury's recommendation a "gut punch" for the victims' families.

"I was very disappointed to see that," he said of the jury's verdict. They did not unanimously agree on this, the jurors indicated Thursday on their verdict forms -- meaning Cruz must be sentenced to life in prison and not death. Prosecutors pointed to seven aggravating factors, including that the killings were especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, as well as cold, calculated and premeditated. "This decision today only makes it more likely that the next mass shooting will be attempted." The deliberations became "tense," a juror wrote in a handwritten letter addressed to Judge Scherer. "This shooter did not deserve compassion," he said outside the courtroom, after the jury's findings were read. Because Cruz pleaded guilty to all counts, the trial phase was skipped and the court went directly to the sentencing phase. Cruz's adoptive mother was not open about this with health professionals or educators, preventing him from receiving the appropriate interventions, the defense claimed. My son's not a murderer. What do we have the death penalty for?" Cruz -- flanked by his attorneys, wearing a blue and gray sweater over a collared shirt and eyeglasses -- sat expressionless, looking down at the table in front of him. "I'm disgusted with those jurors," Alyssa's father, Ilan Alhadeff, said.

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