Last Updated on: 3rd November 2022, 10:05 am
Who is Nikolas Cruz? Biography, Wiki
Nikolas Cruz, the gunman who killed 17 students and staff in the Parkland school shooting, has been officially sentenced to life in prison.
A Florida jury last month voted to save Cruz from the death penalty, choosing life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Nikolas Cruz Age
His current age is 24 years.
Parkland School Shooter Sentenced To Life in Prison
A Florida jury last month voted to spare Nikolas Cruz the death penalty, opting instead for life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Last year, the 24-year-old pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, one of the deadliest shootings in US history.
The jury in Cruz’s three-month trial last month voted 9-3 to sentence him to death, but Florida law requires unanimity for a verdict to be reached.
On Wednesday, Judge Elizabeth Scherer sentenced him to 17 consecutive life sentences for the February 14, 2018 massacre and an additional 17 for the attempted murder of those he injured.
The verdict came after relatives of the victims spoke to him face-to-face for two days.
Statement From The Family Of The Victims
Anne Ramsay, the mother of 17-year-old Helena Ramsay, told her it was “pure evil”.
Inez Hixon, the daughter-in-law of the school’s athletic director Chris Hixon, called him a “domestic terrorist.”
David Alhadeff, Alyssa Alhadeff’s uncle, told Cruz she deserved “a chance to rot.”
“You deserve the chance to absorb the look of terror on your face as soon as you leave this courtroom,” he said.
“You deserve the opportunity to know that justice will eventually prevail, causing you great agony every minute of every day.”
The judge commended the families and injured who testified, calling them strong, graceful, and patient.
“I know you’re fine because you’ve got yourself,” Judge Scherer said.
