Nikolas Cruz is a ‘broken child’ who’s sorry about Parkland shooting, attorneys say
BROWARD COUNTY, FLA. —
Accused school killer Nikolas Cruz is a “remorseful” and “broken child” whose life came apart after the devastating loss of his mother in November, his attorneys say.>> Read more trending news
Cruz, 19, remains on suicide watch at the Broward County jail after being ordered held without bond Thursday on 17 counts of premeditated murder after the shooting Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Wearing orange jail scrubs and shackled at the waist and ankles, he looked down and said two words – “Yes, ma’am” — when Circuit Judge Kim Mollica asked him if he understood the charges.
Cruz had a fascination with guns, was avoided by students at the high school before he was expelled and once trained with a white supremacist group. He also might have sent a Youtube comment in September saying: “I’m going to be a professional school shooter.’’
Victims of the Florida High School Mass Shooting
But his attorneys, in an emotional news conference, tried to paint a sympathetic portrait of a sad teenager who has expressed remorse for the shootings, which culminated a life that spiraled out of control in recent months.
“He is a deeply troubled child who has endured significant loss. He fell between the cracks,’’ said Gordon Weekes, executive assistant public defender.
“He is also saddened by the loss of those family members, by the loss of those children. He has expressed that.”
Cruz and his biological brother Zachary were adopted at birth by an older couple. His father died 13 years ago and his mother Lynda died from pneumonia on Nov. 1 after Cruz had tried to persuade her to seek medical help.
“He encouraged her to go to the hospital to seek treatment. That didn’t work out. That is a significant bit of trauma this young man endured in a very short period of time,” Weekes said.
Assistant public defender Melisa McNeill said Cruz has suffered from mental illness throughout his life and that it’s possible he is autistic.
“He is a broken human being. He is a broken child,’’ she said
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