The jury in the trial of Nikolas Cruz has recommended life in prison without parole for the massacre of 17 classmates at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
As I right this, the verdict is still being read for all the classmates killed in the massacre. But on every count the jury consistently refuses to rule in favor of the death penalty.
Nikolas Cruz's jury recommends life in prison, and not the death penalty. The Florida teen admitted planning and killing 17 classmates.
— 700WLW (@700wlw) October 13, 2022
Lots of reports Nikolas Cruz is sentenced to death. So far, there has been no instance in which the jury said aggravating factors (which merit a death penalty) outweigh mitigating factors (like fetal alcohol disorder) that would save him from death.
Looks like life w/o parole.
— Jesse Scheckner (@JesseScheckner) October 13, 2022
VERDICT REACHED: Jury recommends life without parole on initial counts for #Parkland shooter #NikolasCruz
• Back in 2018, Cruz killed 17 people at #MarjoryStoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, #Florida. pic.twitter.com/oph4xO2Dtv— Shaquille Omari (@shaq_omari) October 13, 2022
Judge still reading jury forms, but so far jury finds while state proved aggravating factors, they couldn’t unanimously agree those outweighed mitigating factors in the case.
Judge has final say, but so far it appears jury decided to spare Nikolas Cruz’s life. @MyNews13 @BN9
— Jeff Allen (@News13JeffAllen) October 13, 2022
Family members listening to the verdict were clearly not happy that the jury ruled out the death penalty:
VIDEO: Family members of the Parkland shooting victims react as the judge reads the verdict from the jury in the Nikolas Cruz sentencing trial.
In the counts read so far, the jury has not recommended death for Nikolas Cruz. https://t.co/2QV4KaQ2M9 pic.twitter.com/Dz98V6hk9D
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) October 13, 2022
We’ll update you if anything changes, but it looks like Nikolas Cruz will be in prison for the rest of his life at this point.