Attorney: Cruz to plead guilty to Parkland school massacre
Accused Parkland high school shooter Nikolas Cruz.[ Broward County Sheriff's Office / ZUMA Press]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – The lawyers for accused Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz say he plans to plead guilty to the 2018 massacre at a Parkland high school. The guilty plea would set up a penalty phase where the 23-year-old Cruz would be fighting against the death penalty and hoping for life without parole.
The lawyers on Friday said the guilty pleas will be entered next week. A jury will decide whether Cruz will get the death penalty. The judge hopes that trial will start in January.
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The news brings some closure to a South Florida community more than three years after an attack that sparked a nationwide movement for gun control.