Nikolas Cruz
Nikolas Cruz | |
---|---|
![]() Cruz's mugshot following his arrest | |
Born | Margate, Florida, U.S. | September 24, 1998
Education | Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (expelled) |
Occupation | Former Dollar Tree cashier |
Known for | Perpetrator of the Parkland high school shooting |
Criminal status | Incarcerated |
Motive | Disputed:
|
Conviction(s) | 17 counts of premeditated first-degree murder, 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder |
Criminal penalty | 34 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole |
Details | |
Date | February 14, 2018 |
Target(s) | Students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School |
Killed | 17 |
Injured | 17 |
Weapons | Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II semi-automatic rifle |
Nikolas Jacob Cruz (born September 24, 1998)[3][4][5] is an American mass murderer who perpetrated the Parkland high school shooting, where he shot and killed 17 people while wounding 17 others on February 14, 2018. In 2022, Cruz was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the shooting, which remains the deadliest high school shooting in the United States.
Cruz had been known for behavioral problems since preschool,[6] and as a teenager on social media he shared his obsessions with mass shootings and expressed racist, sexist, antisemitic, homophobic, and xenophobic views.[7] He was a member of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.[8] He legally purchased various firearms prior to the shooting.[9]
Early life
[edit]Cruz was born on September 24, 1998, to Brenda Norma Woodard (June 25, 1956 – August 23, 2021).[10][11] He was put in an orphanage after his birth, and was adopted by Roger and Lynda Cruz. Both his adoptive parents died, Roger at age 67 on August 11, 2004, and Lynda at age 68 on November 1, 2017, leaving Cruz orphaned three months before the shooting.[12] Since his mother's death, he had been living with relatives and friends.[13] Cruz was a member of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and had received multiple awards including academic achievement for "maintaining an A grade in JROTC and Bs in other subjects", according to CNN.[8] He was also a member of his school's varsity air rifle team.[8][14] At the time of the shooting, he was enrolled in a GED program and employed at a local Dollar Tree.[15][16]
Behavioral issues and social media
[edit]Cruz had behavioral issues since preschool,[6] and was eligible for special education services alongside an IEP. According to The Washington Post Cruz was "well-known to school and mental health authorities and was entrenched in the process for getting students help rather than referring them to law enforcement".[17] Stephen E. Moskowitz diagnosed Cruz with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). He was transferred between schools six times in three years in an effort to deal with these problems. In 2014, he was transferred to a school for children with emotional or learning disabilities. There were reports that he made threats against other students.[18]
Cruz returned to Stoneman Douglas High School two years later but was expelled in 2017 for disciplinary reasons. As he could not be expelled from the Broward County School system completely, he was transferred to alternative placement.[19] The school administration had circulated an email to teachers, warning that Cruz had made threats against other students. The school banned him from wearing a backpack on campus.[20][21][22]
Psychiatrists recommended an involuntary admission of Cruz to a residential treatment facility, starting in 2013.[23] The Florida Department of Children and Families investigated him in September 2016 for Snapchat posts in which he cut both his arms and said he planned to buy a gun. At this time, a school resource officer suggested[24] he undergo an involuntary psychiatric examination under the provisions of the Baker Act. Two guidance counselors agreed, but a mental institution did not.[25] State investigators reported he had depression, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and had a history of attempting suicide. However Psychologist Frederick M. Kravitz later testified that Cruz was never diagnosed with autism.[26] In their assessment, they concluded he was "at low risk of harming himself or others".[27] He had previously received mental health treatment, but had not received treatment in the year leading up to the shooting.[8]
The school district conducted an assessment of the handling of Cruz. According to their redacted report, which was reviewed in August 2018 by The New York Times, The Daily Beast, and other media, a year before the shooting, Cruz had sought help from education specialists, as his grades at Stoneman Douglas were declining. He was an eighteen-year-old junior, and met with the specialists with his mother. The specialists recommended that he transfer to another school, Cross Creek School in Pompano Beach, where he had done well before, but he wanted to graduate with his class at Stoneman Douglas, and rejected this option, as a legal adult. He was advised that if he stayed, he would no longer be able to access special education services, but this was incorrect.[28][29] A few months later, he withdrew because of failing grades. After that, Cruz requested to go to Cross Creek, but he was told a new assessment was needed, delaying action, and the request was denied.[30][31][32]
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel described Cruz's online profiles and accounts as "very, very disturbing".[8] They contained pictures and posts of him with a variety of weapons, including long knives, a shotgun, a pistol, and a BB gun. Police said that he held "extremist" views; social media accounts that were thought to be linked to him contained anti-black and anti-Muslim slurs.[8] YouTube comments linked to him include "I wanna die Fighting killing shit ton of people", and threats against police officers.[8] One of Cruz's Instagram accounts had a profile photo of a person wearing a "Make America Great Again" baseball cap.[33] Cruz also idolized many different infamous mass murderers, such as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, Seung-Hui Cho, James Eagan Holmes, and Elliot Rodger, as well as regularly read and studied Wikipedia articles and documentaries about infamous mass shootings.[8][34][35][36]
In February 2017, Cruz legally purchased an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle from a Coral Springs gun store, after having passed the required background check. Prior to the purchase, he had similarly obtained several other firearms, including at least one shotgun and several other rifles.[9] At the time of the shooting, in Florida, it was legal for people as young as 18 to purchase guns from federally licensed dealers, including the rifle allegedly used in the shooting. The minimum age requirement has since been raised to 21.[37][38][39]
Items recovered by police at the scene included gun magazines with swastikas carved in them. One student claimed that Cruz had drawn a swastika and the words "I hate niggers" on his backpack.[40] CNN reported that Cruz was in a private Instagram group chat where he expressed racist, antisemitic, xenophobic, and homophobic views. Cruz said that he hated "jews, niggers, immigrants" and frequently discussed the weapons that he owned. At one point, Cruz said "I think I am going to kill people" in the group chat, although he later claimed that he was joking.[7]
A former classmate said Cruz had anger management issues and often joked about guns and gun violence, which included threats of shooting up establishments.[41] The brother of a 2016 graduate described him as "super stressed out all the time and talked about guns a lot and tried to hide his face". A student who was enrolled at the school at the time of the shooting said, "I think everyone had in their minds if anybody was going to do it, it was going to be him."[42] A classmate who was assigned to work with him in sophomore year said, "He told me how he got kicked out of two private schools. He was held back twice. He had aspirations to join the military. He enjoyed hunting."[8] A student's mother said that he also bragged about killing animals. A neighbor said his mother would call the police over to the house to try to talk some sense into him.[43]
Earlier warnings to law enforcement
[edit]Sheriff Scott Israel said that his office received 23 calls about Cruz during the previous decade. CNN used a public records request to obtain a sheriff's office log, which showed that from 2008 to 2017, at least 45 calls were made in reference to Cruz, his brother, or the family home combined.[44][45] On February 5, 2016, the calls included an anonymous tip that Cruz had threatened to shoot up the school, and a tip on November 30, 2017, that he might be a "school shooter in the making" and that he collected knives and guns. On September 23, 2016, a peer counselor notified the school resource officer of his suicide attempt and intent to buy a gun, and the school indicated it would do a "threat assessment".[46][47][48]
In September 2016, three people—a sheriff's deputy who worked as a resource officer at Stoneman Douglas, and two of the school's counselors—stated that Cruz should be committed for mental evaluation.[49][50]
On September 24, 2017, a person with the username "nikolas cruz" posted a comment to a YouTube video that read, "Im [sic] going to be a professional school shooter." The person who uploaded the video to YouTube reported the comment to the FBI. According to agent Robert Lasky, the agency conducted database reviews but was unable to track down the individual who made the threatening comment.[51][52]
On January 5, 2018, less than two months before the shooting, the FBI received a tip on its Public Access Line from a person who was close to Cruz. On February 16, two days after the shooting, the agency released a statement that detailed this information. According to the statement, "The caller provided information about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting." After conducting an investigation, the FBI said the tip line did not follow protocol when the information was not forwarded to the Miami Field Office, where investigative steps would have been taken.[53][54] The FBI opened a probe into the tip line's operations.[55]
The response by Israel and other members of the Broward County Sheriff's Office to the numerous red flags and warnings about Cruz has been the subject of scrutiny.[56] In the days following the shooting, calls for Israel’s resignation intensified as more information that alluded to the department's inaction was revealed.[57] Israel refused to resign in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, saying during an interview with CNN, "I've given amazing leadership to this agency" while denying responsibility for the actions of his deputies.[58][59][60][61] This culminated in Governor Ron DeSantis removing Israel from his role as Sheriff and replacing him with Gregory Tony.[62]
Shooting
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Nikolas_J._Cruz_being_arrested_by_police_in_Florida%2C_February_14%2C_2018.jpg/220px-Nikolas_J._Cruz_being_arrested_by_police_in_Florida%2C_February_14%2C_2018.jpg)
On February 14, 2018, Cruz opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, murdering 17 people[note 1] and injuring 17 others.[63][64][65] Cruz, a former student at the school, fled the scene on foot by blending in with other students and was arrested without incident approximately one hour and twenty minutes later in nearby Coral Springs.[66]
Cruz told a psychologist that he committed the shooting on Valentine's Day because he believed that no one loved him.[67]
Legal proceedings
[edit]Arraignment
[edit]At his initial arraignment the day after the shootings, Cruz was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and held without bond.[68][69] According to an affidavit by the sheriff's office, Cruz confessed to the shooting. It was also claimed Cruz told officers that he brought additional loaded magazines hidden in a backpack.[70][71]
Cruz was placed on suicide watch in an isolation cell (solitary confinement) after the arraignment.[72] Lead defense counsel Gordon Weekes asked Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer to recuse herself, claiming that her previous comments and rulings showed favoritism toward the prosecution, which would prevent Cruz from receiving a fair trial. She disagreed and declined the request on February 26.[73]
2018
[edit]On March 7, 2018, a grand jury indicted Cruz on a total of 34 charges: 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder.[74] He was arraigned on March 13, and the prosecution filed notice of their intent to seek the death penalty.[75] They said they could prove five of the aggravating factors that qualify a murder for the death penalty in Florida. Cruz declined to enter a plea, so Scherer entered "not guilty" on his behalf. The defense had earlier offered a guilty plea if the death penalty were taken off the table, and reiterated it immediately before it was refused.[76]
During the week of April 8–12, 2018, Scherer included a three-page letter from a Minnesotan into the court record of the case. The letter was addressed to the judge and claimed that research into Cruz's past led the writer to believe that Cruz had a developmental disability and that he was "fearful of other people and was threatened by bullies." The letter ended by claiming that Cruz appeared to be consumed by sadness and depression.[77]
The same week, a hearing was held to determine if Cruz was entitled to a public defender. His attorney, court-appointed public defender Howard Finkelstein, asked the court to wait until the probate case involving Cruz's late mother's estate was concluded and Cruz's net worth could be determined, as Cruz would have only been entitled to a public defender had he been unable to afford a private attorney.[78]
According to the Broward County Sheriff's Office, Cruz attacked a jail officer on the night of November 13, 2018.[79] The following day, he was charged with aggravated assault on an officer, battery against an officer, and use of an "electric or chemical weapon against an officer". The officer who was allegedly attacked by Cruz had asked him to "not drag his sandals on the ground" while he was walking in the jail's dayroom. It was claimed Cruz responded by "displaying his middle finger" and striking the officer in the face. He also grabbed the stun gun out of the deputy's holster. The weapon discharged during the brawl before the deputy regained control and Cruz was placed in solitary confinement. Cruz appeared at an initial hearing on the assault charges, where bail was set at $200,000.[80]
2019
[edit]On April 24, 2019, a determination was made that Cruz and his half-brother Zachary would share the proceeds of a MetLife insurance policy valued at $864,929.[81] This would make Cruz ineligible for representation by the public defender's office, and the office therefore asked to be removed from his case on that date.
Scherer ruled on July 26 that Cruz's confession would be released to the public, adding on August 3 that the Broward school district's report on Cruz would also be released, with some redactions to protect Cruz's privacy rights.[82] The confession was released on August 6.[83] On August 8, a video of Cruz's confession filmed by the Broward County Sheriff's Office was published by TMZ. Cruz can be heard crying near the end of the video, and saying "kill me" to the camera.[84]
2020
[edit]Cruz's trial, initially scheduled to begin on January 27, 2020, was originally delayed until mid-year to allow his lawyers more time to build their case.[85] The case was then delayed again due to the COVID-19 pandemic;[86] the case was expected to go to trial in September 2021.[87] However, a start date for the trial was not set.[88]
2021
[edit]Prior to trial, the judge, Elizabeth Scherer, ruled that the use of "derogatory words" to refer to Cruz would not be allowed from prosecutors or witnesses during the trial, saying that it would not be feasible to create an "exhaustive list of words" that should not be used to describe Cruz. However, Judge Scherer also ruled against the defense in the use of some words, ruling that Cruz can be called "killer", "school shooter" or "murderer" as she deemed those words "normal to describe particular facts."[89]
On October 14, a trial was scheduled for the following day, where it was reported that Cruz would plead guilty to the battery charge.[90] Judge Scherer stated she would hold a hearing on October 20, where Cruz planned to plead guilty to all counts relating to the shooting to avoid the death penalty.[91]
On October 20, Cruz pled guilty to all charges, including murder and attempted murder. Cruz made a statement after pleading guilty in which he expressed remorse for his crimes and asked the victims' families to decide his fate.
Cruz was also sentenced that day for his attack on Sgt. Beltran. He was given 26 years in prison for the assault charge.[92]
2022
[edit]Cruz's death penalty trial began July 18, 2022, and was presided over by Judge Scherer.[93] On July 27, 2022, prosecutors presented the jurors digital evidence in their investigation. Jurors were presented with an 18-page list of search queries from various Google accounts. The list included searches such as "how to become a school shooter", and "pumped up kicks columbine high school" (a reference to the song "Pumped Up Kicks").[94][95] On August 4, 2022, the prosecution rested its case.[96] On August 20, 2022, the Sun Sentinel released drawings written by Cruz in prison, which he had created in May. In the drawings, he blamed his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend for making him do the shooting, who Cruz claimed sexually humiliated him on Instagram prior to the attack.[97] Anthony Montalto III, the brother of victim Gina Montalto, called Cruz a "murdering bastard";[98] while Michael Schulman, the father of victim Scott Biegel, said that his wish for his 70th birthday was to hear word that Cruz had been killed in prison.[99]
The defense presented the jurors evidence and testimony that Cruz suffered from brain damage and disabilities resulting from his birth mother smoking, drinking alcohol and using various illegal drugs during her pregnancy with him and failure by the state and the school and other sources to get him proper treatment.[100][101][102][103][104][105] In a rebuttal, an expert witness for the prosecution testified that Cruz faked Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in a psychiatric evaluation and diagnosed him with both antisocial and borderline personality disorder.[106]
The defense team for Cruz rested their case on September 14, 2022. The prosecution's rebuttal began on September 27, 2022, and ended on September 29, 2022. Cruz's Google and YouTube search history were presented to the court, showing searches of child pornography, rape, racism, Nazism and killing animals.[107] Closing arguments were delivered on October 11, 2022.[108]
On October 13, 2022, the jury recommended that Cruz be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. While the jury found that the state had proven beyond a reasonable doubt the aggravating factors on all counts, they were not unanimous on whether the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors.[109][note 2]
Nearly all of the murdered victims' families expressed anger and extreme disappointment toward the verdict, stating in their victim impact statements that he deserved the death penalty.[110] Other points of contention from the victims were the perceived improper conduct of Cruz's lawyers during the trial as well as the unanimity required by Florida law to impose the death penalty as opposed to a majority vote.[111] Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who also criticized the jury's recommendation, called for changes to the law.[112] In April 2023, DeSantis signed a bill allowing juries to recommend the death penalty in capital cases on an 8–4 vote, among other measures.[113]
On November 2, 2022, Cruz was sentenced to 34 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, one each for the total number of victims murdered and wounded by Cruz.[114]
2024
[edit]In June 2024, Cruz settled a civil lawsuit with shooting victim Anthony Borges granting him rights to Cruz's name so that Cruz cannot grant interviews or make any agreement with film producers or authors without Borges’ permission. Borges’ lawyer said the objective was to take power and control from Cruz so he cannot inflict further torture on his victims from jail. Cruz also agreed to donate his brain to science.[115]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "School shooter chose Valentine's Day to ruin it forever". Associated Press News. October 6, 2022.
- ^ "Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz contemplated massacre for years". October 3, 2022.
- ^ Wallman, Brittany; McMahon, Paula; O'Matz, Megan; Bryan, Susannah. "School shooter Nikolas Cruz: A lost and lonely killer". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ Miller, Carol Marbin; Gurney, Kyra (February 20, 2018). "Parkland shooter always in trouble, never expelled. Could school system have done more?". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
Contrary to early reports, Cruz was never expelled from Broward schools. Legally, he couldn't be. Under federal law, Nikolas Cruz had a right to a 'free and appropriate' education at a public school near him.
- ^ Teproff, Carli; Herrera, Chabeli; Smiley, David (February 14, 2018). "17 dead, 17 wounded after expelled student shoots up Stoneman Douglas High in Broward". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ a b "Parkland school shooter's defense: Teacher says 'animal fantasy' behaviors were problem in pre-K". August 23, 2022.
- ^ a b Murphy, Paul. "Exclusive: Group chat messages show school shooter obsessed with race, violence and guns". CNN. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Park, Madison (February 14, 2018). "Social media paints picture of racist 'professional school shooter'". CNN. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018.
- ^ a b Date, Jack; Margolin, Josh. "Florida school shooting suspect had access to 10 firearms, including AK-47 variant". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "School shooter Nikolas Cruz: A lost and lonely killer - Sun Sentinel". December 15, 2018. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Curt (September 5, 2018). "Cruz biological mother's past a factor in school shooting". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018.
- ^ "Red flags: The troubled path of accused Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz". The Washington Post. March 10, 2018. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ Hobbs, Stephen; McMahon, Paula; Geggis, Anne; Travis, Scott (February 14, 2018). "Nikolas Cruz: Troubled suspect had been expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018.
- ^ Wright, Mike (February 17, 2018). "Florida shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz was member of school's rifle team and described as a 'very good shot'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Griffin, Drew; Glover, Scott; Pagliery, Jose; Lah, Kyung (February 16, 2018). "From 'broken child' to mass killer". CNN. Archived from the original on April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ Wan, William; Sullivan, Kevin; Weingrad, David; Berman, Mark (February 15, 2018). "Florida shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz: Guns, depression and a life in trouble". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ Craig, Tim; Brown, Emma; Larimer, Sarah; Balingit, Moriah (February 18, 2018). "Teachers say Florida suspect's problems started in middle school, and the system tried to help him". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
interviews with teachers, administrators and those who knew Cruz – along with other records and accounts – show that he was well-known to school and mental health authorities and was entrenched in the process for getting students help rather than referring them to law enforcement.
- ^ Zezima, Katie (March 24, 2018). "'People need to listen to us': Demonstrators gather around the U.S. to protest gun violence". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
- ^ Miller, Carol Marbin; Gurney, Kyra (February 20, 2018). "Parkland shooter always in trouble, never expelled. Could school system have done more?". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
Contrary to early reports, Cruz was never expelled from Broward schools. Legally, he couldn't be. Under federal law, Nikolas Cruz had a right to a 'free and appropriate' education at a public school near him.
- ^ Teproff, Carli; Herrera, Chabeli; Smiley, David (February 14, 2018). "17 dead, 15 wounded after expelled student shoots up Stoneman Douglas High in Broward". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Kelli, Kennedy (February 14, 2018). "Here's what we know about Nikolas Cruz, the Florida school shooting suspect". Boston Globe. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ De Moraes, Lisa (February 14, 2018). "Police: At Least 17 Dead In Florida High School Shooting; Ex-Student In Custody, ID'd – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ Olmeda, Rafael (March 16, 2018). "School officials worried about Nikolas Cruz and guns 18 months before mass shooting". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Saslow, Eli (June 4, 2018). "'It was my job, and I didn't find him': Stoneman Douglas resource officer remains haunted by massacre". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
He had even suggested that counselors use Florida's Baker Act to have Cruz involuntarily committed, but a health expert wrote that Cruz "did not meet criteria for further assessment."
- ^ "Stoneman Douglas' resource officer recommended committing Nikolas Cruz for mental health issues". York, Pennsylvania: WPMT. CNN Wire. March 19, 2018. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
[a] school resource officer [...] wanted to use the Baker Act on September 28, 2016, after the then-student allegedly made threats against himself and others. Although two guidance counselors initially agreed with [the officer], two mental health professionals from Henderson Behavioral Health said Cruz didn't meet the criteria
- ^ "Psychologist says Parkland school shooter was a child who 'stuck out like a sore thumb'". August 24, 2022.
- ^ Burch, Audra D. S.; Robles, Frances; Mazzei, Patricia (February 17, 2018). "Florida Agency Investigated Nikolas Cruz After Violent Social Media Posts". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ Quinn, Allison (August 4, 2018). "Parkland Shooter Asked for Help, but Was Denied Before Shooting". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Torres, Andrea; Weinsier, Jeff (August 4, 2018). "School district mishandled Parkland shooter's access to special education, report says". Miami, Florida: WPLG. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Mazzei, Patricia (August 4, 2018). "Parkland Shooting Suspect Lost Special-Needs Help at School When He Needed It Most". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Wallman, Brittany; McMahon, Paula. "Here's what Broward schools knew about Parkland shooter — details revealed by mistake". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ McMahon, Paula; Wallman, Brittany (August 3, 2018). "Florida school failed Parkland shooter, report says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ "FACT CHECK: Did the Florida Shooter's Instagram Profile Picture Feature a 'MAGA' Hat?". Snopes.com. February 15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ Chen, Joyce (February 15, 2018). "What We Know About the Alleged Florida School Shooter". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ "Alleged Shooter Nikolas Cruz Threatened Mass Campus Shooting 9 Months Ago". TMZ. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ Psychiatrist Probes Parkland School Shooter's Mind During Jailhouse Interview (Interrogation footage). October 5, 2022. Event occurs at 15:29.
I looked up on Wikipedia [sic], I studied mass murderers and how they did it.
- ^ Herrera, Chabeli (February 15, 2018). "Gun shop owners distraught over firearm sold to teen now held in school massacre". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018.
- ^ Swisher, Skyler; McMahon, Paula. "Nikolas Cruz passed background check, including mental health questions, to get AR-15 rifle". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
Cruz purchased the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle in February 2017 from Sunrise Tactical Supply in Coral Springs, officials said. Cruz passed a background check, which looks at criminal history and whether someone has been found to be "mentally defective" by a court, said Peter Forcelli, the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in South Florida...As is the case in most states, Floridians can buy assault-style weapons from federally licensed dealers once they reach age 18.
- ^ Detman, Gary (March 9, 2018). "Gov. Scott signs Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act". WPEC. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
- ^ Fisher, Janon (February 27, 2018). "Florida school gunman carved swastikas into rifle magazines, had 180 rounds remaining". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ Hayes, Christal; Bohatch, Emily (February 14, 2018). "'I'm sick to my stomach': 17 dead in Florida high school shooting; former student in custody". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Darrah, Nicole (February 14, 2018). "Nikolas Cruz was living with Florida high school student in months leading up to shooting, attorney says". Fox News Channel. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Haag, Matthew; Kovaleski, Serge F. (February 14, 2018). "Nikolas Cruz, Florida Shooting Suspect, Described as a 'Troubled Kid'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ Devine, Curt; Pagliery, Jose (February 27, 2018). "Sheriff says he got 23 calls about shooter's family, but records show more". CNN. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ Blinder, Alan; Mazzei, Patricia (February 22, 2018). "As Gunman Rampaged Through Florida School, Armed Deputy 'Never Went In'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ Nehamas, Nicholas (February 22, 2018). "'School shooter in the making': All the times authorities were warned about Nikolas Cruz". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ Hobbs, Stephen; Travis, Scott; Huriash, Lisa J. (February 23, 2018). "Stoneman Douglas cop resigns; sheriff says he should have 'killed the killer'". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
deputies were under review for how they handled two calls, including the one from November where the caller also said Cruz "was collecting guns and knives," according to documents released by the sheriff's office. A deputy followed up with the caller but did not create a report documenting it. A separate incident, from February 2016, was also under review. The sheriff's office said a deputy responded to a tip that Cruz planned to shoot up a school and that the information was forwarded to Peterson, the school resource officer.
- ^ Murphy, Brett; Perez, Maria (February 23, 2018). "Florida school shooting: Sheriff got 18 calls about Nikolas Cruz's violence, threats, guns". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ Anderson, Curt (March 18, 2018). "Some officials wanted Florida school shooting suspect forcibly committed in 2016". Orlando Sentinel. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ "Officials Warned to Institutionalize Alleged Parkland Shooter". Miami, Florida: WTVJ. Associated Press. March 18, 2018. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ Goldman, Adam; Mazzei, Patricia (February 15, 2018). "YouTube Comment Seen as Early Warning in Shooting Left Little for F.B.I. to Investigate". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ Sacks, Brianna (February 15, 2018). "The FBI Was Warned About A School Shooting Threat From A YouTube User Named Nikolas Cruz in September". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Benner, Katie; Mazzei, Patricia; Goldman, Adam (February 16, 2018). "F.B.I. Was Warned of Florida Suspect's Desire to Kill but Did Not Act". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ "FBI Statement on the Shooting in Parkland, Florida". Federal Bureau of Investigation. February 16, 2018. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018.
- ^ Wilber, Del Quentin; Viswanatha, Aruna (February 20, 2018). "FBI Probes Tip-Line Operations After Missed Florida-Shooting Warning". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2018.(subscription required)
- ^ Wamsley, Laurel (February 26, 2018). "Broward Sheriff Under Scrutiny For Handling Of Parkland Shooting". NPR. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Scherer, Michael; Davis, Aaron C.; Berman, Mark (February 26, 2018). "Florida sheriff faces intensifying political scrutiny, calls to resign in wake of school shooting". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Mazzei, Patricia (February 25, 2018). "Under Pressure, Florida Sheriff Defends 'Amazing Leadership'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Hart, Benjamin (February 25, 2018). "Broward County Sheriff Brags About 'Amazing Leadership' in Wake of School-Shooting Failures". New York. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ Boss, Jeff (March 7, 2018). "This Is What 'Amazing Leadership' Doesn't Look Like". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Smiley, David; Nehamas, Nicholas; Rabin, Charles (February 28, 2018). "As Broward sheriff touts 'amazing leadership,' a low grumble builds in the ranks". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Li, David K. (January 11, 2019). "Sheriff Scott Israel removed from office after criticism of Parkland school shooting response". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ Laughland, Oliver; Luscombe, Richard; Yuhas, Alan (February 15, 2018). "Florida school shooting: at least 17 people dead on 'horrific, horrific day'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Earl, Jennifer (February 14, 2018). "Florida school shooting among 10 deadliest in modern US history". Fox News Channel. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Fleshler, David; Hobbs, Stephen; Huriash, Lisa J.; Trischitta, Linda (March 2, 2018). "Captain in Parkland school shooting was brought onto force by Sheriff Israel". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- ^ Detman, Gary (February 15, 2018). "Gunman went to Walmart and McDonald's after school shooting: Sheriff". West Palm Beach, Florida: WPEC. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "School shooter chose Valentine's Day to ruin it forever". AP News. October 6, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Kosnar, Michael; Arkin, Daniel (February 16, 2018). "Florida shooting: FBI was alerted about threat on YouTube". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ Lockie, Alex. "Suspect in Florida shooting could face death penalty for 17 counts of premeditated murder". Business Insider. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ "Florida school shooting suspect hid among students after massacre". CBS News. Associated Press. February 15, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ "Florida high school shooting suspect confesses to 17 counts of murder". Tallahassee, Florida: WTXL-TV. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ Buncombe, Andrew (February 15, 2018). "Nikolas Cruz placed on suicide watch after first court appearance for Florida shooting". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018.
- ^ Kennedy, Kelli; Farrington, Brendan; Anderson, Curt (February 27, 2018). "Judge refuses to step aside in Florida school shooting case". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ McMahon, Paula; Alanez, Tonya (March 7, 2018). "Nikolas Cruz indicted on 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ McLaughlin, Eliott C. (March 13, 2018). "Prosecutors will seek death penalty in Parkland school massacre". CNN. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
- ^ Batchelor, Amanda (March 14, 2018). "Judge enters not guilty plea for Nikolas Cruz during arraignment hearing". Miami, Florida: WPLG. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ Sanchez, Ray; Flores, Rosa. "Letter asks judge to show mercy on Parkland shooter". CNN. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Flores, Rosa. "Nikolas Cruz, brother might have $1 million in bank, attorney says". CNN. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ CURT; ERSON; Spencer, Terry (November 14, 2018). "Sheriff: Parkland shooting suspect assaulted jail officer". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Susan (November 14, 2018). "Parkland suspect Nikolas Cruz charged with assaulting jail guard, grabbing stun gun". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Carol Marbin; Nehamas, Nicholas (April 24, 2019). "Parkland shooter came into an $865K insurance policy. Now his public defenders are dropping him". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019.
- ^ McMahon, Paula; Wallman, Brittany (August 3, 2018). "Parkland school shooting report must be released to public, judge rules". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018.
- ^ McMahon, Paula; Alanez, Tonya; Huriash, Lisa J. (August 6, 2018). "Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz during confession: 'Kill me'". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018.
- ^ "Stoneman Douglas Shooter Nikolas Cruz Confession Tapes Released, He Says 'Kill Me'". TMZ. August 8, 2018. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ Vallet, Harry (December 19, 2019). "Trial for accused Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz delayed until summer 2020". Ben Feuerherd. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- ^ "Judge: Parkland school shooting trial off indefinitely due to COVID-19 restrictions". KSHB. June 22, 2020. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ "Nikolas Cruz expected to go to trial in September for Parkland school shooting". Local 10. May 7, 2021. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ Checkol, Eden (September 8, 2021). "Attorneys for confessed Parkland gunman seeking life sentence rather than death penalty". WPLG. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ Androne, Dakin; Timm-Garcia, Jaide; Razek, Raja (September 4, 2021). "Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz cannot be called an 'animal' or any other derogatory names during trial, judge rules". CNN. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "Attorney: Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz to plead guilty". October 15, 2021. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ Madigan, Nick; Levenson, Michael; Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (October 15, 2021). "Nikolas Cruz to Plead Guilty for Parkland School Shooting". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ "Nikolas Cruz: Parkland gunman pleads guilty to murdering 17". BBC News. October 20, 2021. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Spencer, Terry (July 18, 2022). "Prosecutor recalls coldness, cruelty of Parkland gunman". Associated Press. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ^ Torres, Christina Vazquez, Andrea (July 27, 2022). "Prosecution shows jurors evidence of Parkland school shooter's violent thoughts, actions". WPLG. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Spencer, Terry. "Jurors see Florida school shooter's violent internet posts". ABC News. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ Roustan, Wayne (August 4, 2022). "Parkland Prosecution Rests Case as Jurors Hear From Final Family Members". NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ "As his defense launches, Parkland shooter still fixated on blood, murder, revenge". Sun Sentinel. August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Watch Emotional Final Statements From Families of Parkland Victims Ahead of Shooter's Sentencing". November 1, 2022.
- ^ Algar, Selim (November 2, 2022). "Parkland parent Michael Schulman calls for Nikolas Cruz to be murdered in jail".
- ^ "Nikolas Cruz's brain 'irretrievably broken' because birth mom abused cocaine and alcohol, his defense says". NBC News. August 23, 2022.
- ^ Weisfeldt, Sara; Levenson, Eric; Royal, Denise (August 22, 2022). "Nikolas Cruz's defense says his brain was 'poisoned' by birth mother's addictions in death penalty trial". CNN. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ Phillips, Hannah. "Nikolas Cruz sentencing trial live updates: Alcohol abuse and poor prenatal care hurt Cruz in the womb, doctor says". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ Spencer, Terry (August 23, 2022). "Parkland school shooter's birth mom abused cocaine, alcohol". WINK News. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ Torres, Andrea (August 22, 2022). "Parkland school shooter's defense: Recovering addict says mother used drugs during pregnancy". WPLG. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ Cohen, Lenny (September 12, 2022). "Nikolas Cruz penalty trial returns to focus on mother's drinking, school killer's IQ". WBMA. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ Sharp, Rachel (October 4, 2022). "Nikolas Cruz faked extent of mental illness and cognitive issues, expert claims: 'He was clearly playing games'". Independent.co.uk.
- ^ "Parkland shooter's trial delayed due to hurricane threat in Florida". The Independent. September 28, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ "Prosecutors ask jury to recommend death sentence for Parkland shooter". CNN. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ Macaya, Aditi Sangal, Matt Meyer, Meg Wagner, Melissa (October 13, 2022). "Jury recommends life without parole for Nikolas Cruz". CNN. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Florida high school mass shooter sentenced to life in prison". The Straits Times. Singapore. November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "Parkland shooter jailed for life, confronted by victims' relatives". CNA. Singapore. November 3, 2022. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ Allen, Greg (November 1, 2022). "Florida is poised to change the way it imposes the death sentence in trials". NPR. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "Gov. DeSantis signs death penalty, crime bills as possible 2024 presidential run looms". CBS News. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
- ^ "Florida school mass shooter sentenced to life in prison". TODAY. Singapore. November 3, 2022. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ Olmeda, Rafael (June 27, 2024). "Parkland school shooter signs away rights to his name. Now, just one survivor owns it". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024.
- 1998 births
- 21st-century American criminals
- American adoptees
- American male criminals
- American mass murderers
- American murderers of children
- American people convicted of attempted murder
- American people convicted of murder
- Criminals from Florida
- Living people
- Male murderers
- People from Margate, Florida
- People with antisocial personality disorder
- People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- People with borderline personality disorder
- Parkland high school shooting
- Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Florida
- American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
- People convicted of murder by Florida