On Monday, the defence team for Nikolas Cruz was found guilty of killing 17 people and injuring 17 others during a deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018, and started delivering its case. Cruz is charged with 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of 17th-degree attempted murder.
As it turned out, it was one of the deadliest shootings at a school in the history of the United States. Cruz began his shooting spree when he was 19 years old and continued it until he was arrested. In October, he entered a plea of guilty to 17 counts of murder in the first degree as well as 17 counts of attempted murder.
He was a student at the school who had a history of exhibiting disruptive behaviours until February of 2017, when he was sent to an adult learning centre. Before that, he was a student at the school.
In addition, the ongoing trial sheds light on the specifics of his mental health, which are believed to have been shattered as a result of his mother’s drinking problems.
Where Exactly Are Linda and Roger Cruz, Nikolas Cruz’s Adopted Parents?
Nikolas Cruz was brought up by his adoptive family in Parkland, Florida, which is known for its high level of wealth. Soon after Nikolas’s birth, his biological parents, Linda and Roger, adopted him with the assistance of a private attorney.
Both Roger and Lynda departed away before the tragedy occurred, Roger when the boys were still little and Lynda in November 2017, barely two months before the incident.
The short version is that she passed away in November of 2017 at the age of 68 due to pneumonia. Her kid had turned 18 the year before, so it had been a year since that milestone. She was left to raise Nikolas and his brother, who were both adopted, on her own for a significant portion of their childhoods after the death of her marriage when Nikolas was still a young child.
Nikolas is Lynda and Roger’s biological child, but they raised him as their own.
According to Paul Gold, a longtime neighbour of the Cruz family, Linda Cruz was a compassionate mother whose life was made difficult by the presence of her two kids who exhibited problematic behavioural patterns.
Gold made the observation that “Nikolas had major emotional disorders and had trouble regulating his fury.” [Citation needed] He stated that Nikolas had a charming side, but when he “freaked out,” he would “start throwing things, start breaking things, start grabbing his ears, and start shrieking.”
According to a report in the Sun-Sentinel that was based on the testimony of Lynda Cruz’s cousin, Nikolas Cruz knocked out a couple of his mother’s teeth, and at the time of her passing, she was still paying the $2,000 in dental bills that she owed.
His biological mother, Brenda Woodard, has an extensive record of criminal behaviour
The legal team for Nikolas Cruz asserted that the “irreparably shattered” state of their client’s brain was caused by his biological mother’s usage of drugs and alcohol while she was pregnant with Nikolas Cruz.
Melissa McNeill, the lead public defender, stated in her opening statements that all of the “choices” that the defendant made on the day in question were ultimately influenced by Brenda Woodard, his biological mother. This is despite the fact that the defendant was the one who “viciously murdered 17 people.”
She went on to explain that at the time his mother became pregnant, she was a drug addict, an alcoholic, and worked as a prostitute on top of all of those other problems.
The defence asserts that Cruz’s “brain is shattered” as a direct result of his mother’s drinking.
The attorney stated that the jury would hear from witnesses, including Cruz’s biological sister as well as a former friend and co-defendant, regarding Woodard’s ongoing use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco while she was pregnant. The lawyer also mentioned that Cruz’s biological sister would be one of the witnesses.
According to the Independent, McNeil said that he smoked cigarettes, used crack cocaine, and drank alcohol during his pregnancy as a form of prenatal care. In contrast, as a consequence of this, he has suffered brain damage that is permanent and cannot be repaired.
According to Ms. McNeill, the jury needs to “understand the person behind the crime” before they can decide whether Cruz “lives or dies.” It was her contention that Cruz suffered from foetal alcohol spectrum disease (FASD).
Zachary Cruz, the shooter in Parkland’s half-brother, is in his 20s
Brenda, who is Cruz’s biological mother, became pregnant for a second time, this time with a child whose biological father was not the same as the first. In 1999, she gave birth to his half-brother, Zachary, who was the only child they shared.
The same adoptive parents, Linda and Roger, also adopted his half-brother, and the two brothers have the same half-sister, Daniella Woodard, who is now 31 years old. His adoptive parents are named Linda and Roger.
Zachary, who is Nikolas’ half-brother ?
According to the court documents, Daniella, who currently resides in Miami, has a history of involvement in illegal activity. This covers convictions for crimes such as assault, escaping arrest, and fraudulently using credit cards.
In recent events, a legal representative for Nikolas Cruz’s biological sister voiced some concerns to the judge before the jury was brought into the courtroom to hear the case.
On Monday, it is believed that Danielle Woodard, who is Cruz’s biological sister, would be asked to testify before the court.
Zach Rosenberg, the attorney who claimed to represent Woodard, stated that he had not been alerted that she would be appearing today. Woodard was the witness, he claimed. He asked the judge to establish a protective order that would prevent her from giving testimony, and the judge granted his request.
After the incident, Cruz was reportedly ‘overcome with sorrow.
At the conclusion of the hearing on Thursday, Cruz issued an apology through a statement that was delivered by his counsel “to anyone who felt scared or endangered by his presence on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas campus last week.”
The attorney stated that “Zachary has undergone and continues to experience a trauma unlike anything any of us could ever conceive.” “It’s just been four months since he witnessed his mother’s gradual decline and eventual passing. He was 17.”
Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are only allowed to bring transparent backpacks to school.
Cruz had no choice but to uproot his life and start over after the passing of his mother. He had to leave his friends and his school behind.
“Then, in the month of February, the only member of his family with whom he was still in contact, his brother, brutally murdered 17 people. Zachary was unable to contain his feelings of despair. Grief for those who had been killed and for the loved ones they left behind. Grief for his own brother, whom he adores “According to the counsel for Cruz, the suspect did not anticipate seeing anyone when he travelled to the Parkland school. He merely desired to “attempt to make sense” of the situation.
The final sentence of the statement said, “Zachary is a typical 18-year-old child who has experienced something more deep than any of us could conceive.” Zachary has experienced something more profound than any of us could imagine. Zachary Cruz is not someone any of us have any reason to fear; rather, he is someone who is in need of our compassion.
Was he being punished for the crime committed by his brother?
Zachary Cruz was charged with a misdemeanour of the second degree, which carries a bond of $25 on average. Instead, the judge in Cruz’s case decided last week to set bond at the amount of $500,000, order a psychological evaluation, electronic monitoring, and prohibit Cruz from having any contact with his older brother.
Cruz was chained and surrounded by three armed deputies for his initial court appearance, which took place on closed-circuit TV on March 20. This is not typical for someone who is appearing in court on a trespassing charge.
The warning indicators that were ignored by virtually everyone
His counsel referred to the carnage that took place as the cause of his client’s “hysteria.”
Although the prosecutors brought up three prior offences to which Cruz pleaded guilty, records from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Coral Springs police reveal that his interactions with law enforcement were significantly more extensive.
Between the years 2011 and 2017, at least 36 events, investigations, and call reports mention him by name or make reference to him.
The shooter’s sibling was disallowed from purchasing firearms
A second judge, who presided over the case on Thursday, issued an injunction that prohibits Zachary Cruz from having access to firearms.
Cruz is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition for a period of twelve months under the terms of the risk protection order, which is a different legal proceeding from the plea bargain in the trespassing case.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office had applied for the order citing a new Florida legislation that had been created in the wake of the school shooting that took place one month ago.
On March 21, Judge Jack Tuter had granted a temporary risk protection order against Cruz. Thursday’s ruling was signed by the same judge who had issued that order.
Infraction of the order is a misdemeanour that can result in a jail sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000.
In accordance with the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, law enforcement personnel are now authorised to temporarily seize weapons from individuals whom they have detained for the purpose of conducting an involuntary evaluation of their mental health.
Tuter made notice of the fact that the sheriff’s office did not suggest Cruz is the owner of any firearms while explaining why the temporary injunction should be granted. According to the ruling, the court found that there was probable grounds to believe that Cruz would represent “a considerable danger of causing bodily injury to himself” if he were to get a pistol or ammunition. This conclusion was reached on the basis of the allegations that were presented to the court.