Life instead of Death Penalty: Trial for Parkland Shooting

On February 14, 2018, 17 people were killed and 17 more people were injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The shooter was Nikolas Cruz, a 19 year old who had previously attended the high school. This shooting was the deadliest school shooting in the United States, and it sparked protests and calls for better safety in who is allowed the rights to guns. Other students of Stoneman Douglas also started the March for Our Lives to advocate for better gun restrictions, which brought awareness to the matter and ultimately led to firearms only being purchased at least at 21 years old. In October 2021, Cruz pled guilty to 17 counts of premeditated and attempted murder.

Over the past few months, the prosecution and defense have been presenting their cases in court as to whether Cruz should receive the death penalty or a life sentence with no parole based in the aggravating and mitigating circumstances. The defense’s main argument was that Cruz’s actions were as a result of fetal alcohol syndrome’s implications on his mind. While the prosecution focused on showing how the shooting was planned and intentional, using videos and drawings as evidence. On October 12, the jury deliberating over the case announced that they felt that Cruz should get life in prison with no parole. The jury commented on the aggravating and mitigating circumstances presented to them, and one juror said the Cruz should not get the death penalty since there are more mitigating circumstances even though the jury was in consensus that there were aggravating factors, like that the murders were premeditated. 

The families of the victims and students at Stoneman Douglas High school were upset with the life with no parole sentence. They disagreed and felt frustrated with the jury’s decision with the jury foreman, Benjamin Thomas, saying, “We need justice. It didn't go the way I would've liked or the way I voted but that's how the jury system works.” The jury will officially announce their decision for Nikolas Cruz on November 1, 2022. It is expected to be a life with no parole sentence since the entire jury could not reach an agreement about the punishment, and a unanimous vote is needed for death penalty punishments.

By Hasita Yalamanchili