Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida

Coral Springs Talk/Flickr (CC-BY)

Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz charged with 17 counts of murder

He could face the death penalty.

 

Andrew Wyrich

Tech

Posted on Mar 7, 2018   Updated on May 21, 2021, 10:29 pm CDT

Nikolas Cruz, who authorities say carried out a shooting at a Florida high school last month, was charged on Wednesday with 17 counts of first-degree murder, according to reports.

He could face the death penalty if convicted, the Associated Press reported. His public defender said he would plead guilty if the death penalty is not an option.

Authorities arrested Cruz shortly after he killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. It was determined that he used an AR-15 rifle during the attack.

Since the shooting, students from the high school have spoken out passionately about gun reform and have been the subject of numerous unfounded conspiracy theories.

President Donald Trump has also floated the idea of arming teachers in the wake of the shooting.

Cruz has been held in solitary confinement during his time in jail, according to the news outlet.

You can read all of the Associated Press report on the charges here.

Share this article
*First Published: Mar 7, 2018, 2:59 pm CST