Parkland shooter avoids death penalty, will get life in prison without parole
![Nikolas Cruz.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4EgScW8CN2heXUZoRjp7Hi-415-80.jpg)
A jury on Thursday recommended life in prison without parole for Nikolas Cruz, the gunman behind the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Though prosecutors were seeking the death penalty, the "jury would've had to reach that decision unanimously," Axios reports. Cruz, 24, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder last October.
The Parkland shooting was the deadliest mass shooting at a U.S. high school, per Axios, having left 14 students and three staff members dead.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
During the jury trial, which began in July, the defense argued Cruz's brain was "damaged before birth" — he suffered from undiagnosed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, they said — and that he was subject to a number of "troubling circumstances" prior to the attack, "including the death of his adoptive mother from pneumonia," writes The New York Times. The prosecution, meanwhile, maintained that "the gravity of [Cruz's] crimes" justified the death penalty, the Times adds, noting that "many of the victims' families ... also supported capital punishment in the case."
Those in the courtroom "appeared horrified and baffled" at the jury's decision, the Times continues. None of the jurors looked in the direction of the victims' families as their recommendation was read, per CNN .
Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer set the sentencing date for Nov. 1, CNN adds, noting that, under Florida law, "Scherer cannot depart from the jury's recommendation of life."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Ukraine's Olympians: going for gold in the line of fire
Under the Radar Hundreds of the country's athletes have died in battle, while those who remain deal with the psychological toll of war and prospect of Russian competitors
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Trump criminal trial starts with rulings, reminder
Speed Read The first day of his historic trial over hush money payments was mostly focused on jury selection
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 years
Speed Read Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to be convicted in a US mass shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Unlicensed dealers and black market guns
Speed Read 68,000 illegally trafficked guns were sold in a five year period, said ATF
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud
Speed Read Former "crypto king" Sam Bankman-Fried will report to federal prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Goon Squad' cops sentenced for torturing 2 Black men
Speed Read The former Mississippi law enforcement officers pleaded guilty last year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Michigan shooter's dad guilty of manslaughter
speed read James Crumbley failed to prevent his son from killing four students at Oxford High School in 2021
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Shooting at Chiefs victory rally kills 1, injures 21
Speed Read Gunfire broke out at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade in Missouri
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published