Parkland school shooter spared the death sentence as Florida jury recommends life without parole

Nikolas Cruz, the man who shot and killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, was spared the death penalty as a Florida jury recommended a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Thursday's decision comes more than four years after the deadliest U.S. mass shooting that has ever gone to trial

Under Florida law, a death sentence can only be handed down if jurors had unanimously recommended he be executed. If at least one juror found aggravating factors of the murders did not outweigh mitigating factors presented by the defense, the only other option is life in prison.

Cruz, 24, pleaded guilty last October to all charges brought against him by a Florida grand jury, which included 17 counts of premeditated murder and an additional 17 counts of attempted murder to account for people injured during the shooting. The penalty trial began in July after months of delays, and concluded earlier this week with closing arguments before a sequestered jury moved into deliberations.

Jurors had to determine whether Cruz should face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Parkland massacre, which happened on Valentine's Day in 2018 and remains the deadliest high school shooting on record in the U.S.

Thursday's recommendation, which will be followed by official sentencing from the judge on Nov. 1, was based on the jury's finding that although there were numerous aggravating factors in the crime, those circumstances did not outweigh mitigating factors — parts of the gunman's troubled childhood that the defense said influenced his turn toward violence.

Some of the victims' families spoke out immediately after the hearing to voice their disappointment over the decision.