Parkland High School Shooter Nikolas Cruz Pleads Guilty (UPDATE)

Nikolas Cruz—the gunman behind the fatal attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida—is expected to plead guilty to the murder of 17 people.

Shooter Nikolas Cruz seen in court
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Image via Getty/Amy Beth Bennett/Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service

Shooter Nikolas Cruz seen in court

UPDATED 10/20, 10:40 a.m. ET: Nikolas Cruz, who is accused of killing 17 people in the Parkland shooting, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, per ABC News. He’s been charged with 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder, and now faces life in prison or the death penalty. 

See original story below.

Nikolas Cruz, the gunman behind the fatal attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018, is due to plead guilty to the murder of 17 people.

Per the Associated Press, Cruz’s attorneys said on Friday that the former student of the school will plead guilty to killing 14 students and three staff members in February 2018. The 23-year-old could face the death penalty after submitting his guilty plea, and is expected to at least get life in prison without the opportunity for parole.

Attorneys for Cruz informed Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer their client will plead guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder, 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder, and to attacking a jail guard while behind bars. A trial following his guilty plea has yet to be set, but it’s already been hit with multiple delays throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As for the attacking a jail guard charge, Cruz reportedly he wrestled an officer to the ground in November 2018, exchanged punches, and attempted to take his taser away. He will be tried seperately for that incident, and could be hit with a 15-year sentence for his action.

“It is our intent to enter a change of plea as to both cases to all charges,” said one of Cruz’s lawyers, David Wheeler, the New York Times reported.

Prior to the shooting in February 2018, Cruz was expelled from Stoneman Douglas after a number of incidents at the school including at least one fight. During his time as a student, he was prohibited from wearing a backpack at school due to concerns he might conceal a weapon. After he was expelled, he shared photos and videos online of himself with guns. He threatened violence in multiple videos and posts, and had even expressed his desire to commit violence at Stoneman Douglas.

Cruz’s mother died four months before the shooting, and at least one anonymous sourced informed the FBI that Cruz might be planning an act of domestic terrorism due to concerns about his mental stability. Despite that call, the information was not provided to the south Florida FBI office, and an investigation was never launched.

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