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Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday he was “extremely disappointed” after a jury overruled the death penalty and recommended that Nicholas Cruz serve life in prison for murdering 17 people at Parkland High School in 2018. Stated.
Cruise pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder in the February 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
During an appearance at Cape Coral, DeSantis said, “It’s a case of you slaughtering students in a premeditated and complete disregard for basic humanity…you deserve the death penalty.” said.
The shootings prompted lawmakers to pass the then-government-signed gun and school safety measures in 2018. Rick Scott.
DeSantis, who was elected governor later that year, in 2019 called for the dismissal of then-Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel over his handling of the shooting.
The State Senate eventually approved Israel’s expulsion.
DeSantis on Thursday also blamed lengthy legal proceedings after the school massacre.
“You know, they were doing this. He would have been executed in six months. He’s guilty, everyone knew it from the beginning. It takes years. It’s not in the interests of the victims,” DeSantis said.
Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherrer did not immediately sentence Cruz. Under state law, a jury must unanimously recommend the death penalty to sentence an accused.
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