Police Want Brother of Suspected Florida School Shooter Involuntarily Committed

David Fischer / AP
Updated

(MIAMI) — Authorities are seeking to have the brother of a teen charged with killing 17 people at a Florida school involuntarily committed and prohibited from possessing guns.

A Broward Sheriff’s Office news release says the agency filed for a risk protection order against 18-year-old Zachary Cruz in circuit court Tuesday under a new “red flag law” that was just signed by the governor last week.

If a judge approves the request, Cruz would be hospitalized for a mental health evaluation and barred from acquiring firearms.

Cruz was arrested and charged with trespassing Monday afternoon at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He is currently being held on $500,000 bail. His brother, Nikolas Cruz, is charged with a Feb. 14 shooting rampage at the school that killed 17 people.