The trial for Parkland college shooter Nikolas Cruz started with beforehand unseen, harrowing movies of what a prosecutor described as a ‘systemic’ mass homicide of 17 youngsters and adults.
Prosecutors on Monday revealed new particulars concerning the 2018 college capturing in Florida because the jury prepares to resolve whether or not Cruz, 23, receives the loss of life penalty or life in jail with out parole.
Assistant State Legal professional Mike Satz known as Cruz’s rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive College a ‘goal-directed, deliberate, systematic homicide – mass homicide – of 14 youngsters, an athletic director, a instructor, and a coach’.
In arguing that Cruz deliberate the capturing lengthy prematurely, the prosecution offered a number of beforehand unseen movies. They included surveillance footage from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive College and a video recorded by Cruz detailing his plans to grow to be ‘the subsequent college shooter of 2018’.
Previous to the capturing, Cruz recorded a video the place he calmly mentioned: ‘Hey. My identify is Nick. I’m going to be the subsequent college shooter of 2018.’
Prosecutors revealed that Cruz arrived on the college after taking an Uber experience at 2.19pm. He introduced with him a Smith & Wesson 5.56 caliber rifle in a black case, with a tactical vest with further magazines hidden in his backpack, they mentioned.
As Cruz was organising his rifle, he bumped into fellow pupil Christopher McKenna. Cruz warned McKenna that ‘you higher get out of right here, one thing dangerous goes to occur’, in keeping with Satz. McKenna ran to warn one of many hallway screens, who later was shot and killed.
After leaving his rifle, backpack, and extra rounds within the college stairwell, Cruz walked exterior unarmed and stopped at a Subway inside a close-by Walmart, Satz mentioned. He ordered an Icee, paid and tipped the employees earlier than calmly ending his drink on the franchise.
Cruz continued to stroll towards a McDonalds, the place he bumped into fellow pupil John Wilford, Satz mentioned. He requested Wilford for a experience residence, however Wilford refused after not recognizing him. Simply minutes earlier, Cruz had shot Wilford’s sister.
The prosecution proceeded by calling witnesses, beginning with Brittney Sinitch, a former Marjory Stoneman Douglas pupil who returned to the varsity to work as an English instructor.
Sinitch was already in tears as she took the stand. She described listening to what she known as ‘the loudest noise you can presumably think about’ earlier than instructing her college students to cover within the classroom’s corners.
Sinitch made a name to 911 as Cruz started capturing exterior her classroom, which was performed for the court docket. She might be heard saying ‘I believe there’s a shooter right here’, earlier than the sound of gunshots reduce her off.
Danielle Gilbert, a junior in 2018, heard the gunshots throughout her AP psychology lecture. She described her fellow classmates as ‘sitting geese’ with ‘no option to defend ourselves’ because the gunman started firing into her classroom. After hiding behind her instructor’s desk, she instantly started recording on her cellphone.
Within the harrowing audio clip, a single scream might be heard over the deafening sound of rifle hearth. After a momentary silence, a male pupil might be heard moaning and saying, ‘any person assist me’ 3 times as the remainder of the category cowered in worry.
Cruz shot 4 college students within the psychology class, certainly one of whom died from the gunshot wounds.
Because the audio recording went on, a number of gallery members might be seen leaving the courtroom. Gilbert herself started silently crying because the recording ended.
On Monday, Cruz might be seen taking off his glasses and holding his head between his palms, staring on the flooring.
Later, the protection known as for a mistrial after a gallery member had an emotional response to a bit of video proof. Because the video progressed, a sufferer’s household pal was escorted out of the courtroom after they started shouting, ‘Flip it off, flip it off!’
Florida Circuit Decide Elizabeth Scherer denied the movement.
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