Parkland shooting - live: Nikolas Cruz trial hears officer testimony about finding victims’ bodies
Nikolas Cruz, the man convicted of shooting dead 17 people and injuring 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on 14 February 2018, is facing the penalty phase of the trial for his crimes.
A former student at the school, Cruz was 19 when he went on a shooting spree in what proved to be one of the deadliest school massacres in US history. He subsequently surrendered to police and pleaded guilty to 17 charges of first-degree murder and 17 of attempted murder.
Cruz was a member of the school's air rifle team who had been expelled over his disciplinary record. He had arrived at the school with a legally purchased AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and murdered 14 students and three staff members, injuring 17 more. The shooting sparked a nationwide protest movement demanding tighter gun control measures.
While prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Cruz, his attorneys are hoping for a life term.
WARNING - Graphic content: This blog contains testimony, descriptions, and audio content relating to the Parkland shooting.
Key Points
17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018
12-member jury to weigh death penalty versus life in prison
Cruz pleaded guilty to his crimes in October
Jury shown horrific videos of massacre from student’s phones and CCTV cameras
Survivors give emotional testimony about their experiences on day
Footage shows Cruz’s casual movements in aftermath of massacre
Court takes 15 minute recess
16:34 , Rachel Sharp
The court is taking a 15 minute recess.
Graphic testimony about moments victims were located inside school
16:34 , Rachel Sharp
Graphic testimony was heard in court describing the moments officers found the victims of the mass shooting inside the school building.
A detective from Coral Springs took the stand and described how he arrived at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School campus at around 2.42pm.
He first entered the 1200 building on the east side before being directed by fellow officers to the west side.
When he reached the third floor of the building, he found the gunman’s vest with his rifle placed on top of it.
He then saw the body of 14-year-old freshman student Jaime Guttenberg to his left.
The officer described how he checked Jaime for her pulse and vital signs but discovered she was already dead.
Jaime’s father Fred Guttenberg wiped tears from his eyes and bowed his head as he listened to the officer’s testimony about his daughter. He was seen being comforted by others in the gallery.
The officer then testified about finding the body of 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver in the alcove to the men’s restroom.
The officer told the court how he had to move the boy’s lifeless body out of the doorway so that he could check if anyone was inside the restrooms.
During the officer’s testimony, murderer Nikolas Cruz was sat with his head in his hands.
Law enforcement officer testifies about responding to mass shooting
16:13 , Rachel Sharp
Next on the stand was Broward Sheriff’s Office Sgt Richard Vanderees.
Sgt Vanderees testified that he heard over the dispatch about a “possible shooting” at the high school on 14 February 2018 and drove immediately to the scene.
He said he headed straight for the 1200 building, entering through the double doors on the east side.
As he entered the building, he saw “a child dead on the ground and smoke and dust in the air”.
Sgt Vanderees and other law enforcement officers cleared students out of one of the rooms on the floor and he then went up the stairs to the third floor.
“We looked down the halfway and there was a child all the way at the other end,” he said.
“He was trying to raise his hand up and was trying to say something,” he said.
He said that he and his fellow officers grabbed the boy – identified as Anthony Borges – and took him to a medic.
When he went back, he found two victims – Cara Loughran and Meadow Pollack – inside the alcove of the bathroom doorway. The officer identified the two victims in photos from the scene.
Police officer describes finding victims as he responded to high school
15:55 , Rachel Sharp
Coral Springs Police Department Captain Nicholas Mazzei was the first witness to take the stand on Friday morning.
Captain Mazzei told the court that he responded to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on 14 February 2018 and approached the 1200 building where Cruz carried out his attack.
Other officers were already on the scene.
As he approached the west stairwell doors, he came across the body of victim Aaron Feis lying on the ground.
Captain Mazzei said that he checked him for vital signs but Feis was already dead.
The officer then – believing that the gunman was still inside the building – entered the school building, he said.
Once he entered the building, he came across a second victim – Chris Hixon.
Captain Mazzei identified the victims’ bodies in photos shown to the court.
First witness called to the stand
15:43 , Rachel Sharp
The jury has now been seated and the first witness for day five is being called to the stand.
Cruz’s attorney says local news outlet has posted details of jurors
15:42 , Rachel Sharp
Nikolas Cruz’s legal team told the court that local news outlet Channel 10 had posted details of the jurors and alternates online.
A Channel 10 journalist told the judge that the outlet has not identified jurors by name but has detailed their location in the jury box and information about them as individuals, such as their employment.
The judge said that if the jurors’ names have not been published then the outlet has not violated the court rules by identifying them. However, she said that the outlet’s actions were “not in the spirit of the agreement”.
Defence objects to witnesses identifying Cruz in court
15:36 , Rachel Sharp
The defence has asked the judge to stop witnesses from identifying Nikolas Cruz in the courtroom.
Cruz’s attorney raised the objection before the jury was brought into the courtroom on Friday morning. He has pleaded guilty to committing the crimes so “that isn’t an issue”, she said.
His legal team said that pointing out Cruz is not relevant to the aggravating circumstances at the centre of the sentencing trial, which are the basis of whether or not the jury will sentence him to death or life in prison.
The judge denied the defence’s request, saying she would allow witnesses to identify him “on a limited basis”.
During day four of the trial on Thursday, several witnesses were asked by the state to identify the gunman – prompting objections from the defence each time.
Victims’ families arrive in court
15:09 , Rachel Sharp
The family members of victims of the Parkland massacre have arrived in court.
The jury is expected to enter soon for day five of the sentencing trial to get under way.
Trial to resume at 10am ET
14:45 , Rachel Sharp
The sentencing trial will resume shortly at 10am ET.
The Friday morning start time is one hour later than usual and comes after a half-day session was held on Thursday.
What happened on day four of the trial:
13:45 , Rachel Sharp
Day four of the sentencing trial largely focused on Nikolas Cruz’s movements in the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting, with jurors shown footage of the gunman at various locations before his arrest.
Here’s a recap of the main points from 21 July:
Footage shows Cruz calmly going to Subway after shooting
The court was shown surveillance footage of Cruz calmly strolling into a nearby Subway store around 25 minutes after the shooting.
In the footage, Cruz casually walks up to the counter and buys a cherry and blue ice drink before he casually walks out of the restaurant again drinking it.
The court heard testimony from Carlos Rugeles, the manager of the Subway store, who recalled serving Cruz that day.
Cruz went to McDonald’s and sat with brother of student he had just shot
After leaving the Subway, Cruz calmly went to a McDonald’s. Chilling surveillance footage was played in court showing Cruz entering the restaurant and sitting down in a booth directly opposite John Wilford – a student whose sister he had just shot minutes earlier.
Mr Wilford, who was in ninth grade at Marjory Stoneman, testified that he evacuated from the building and couldn’t get in touch with his sister. He arranged for his mother to pick him up from McDonald’s.
He said he started speaking to Cruz about what had happened saying “this is so chaotic” and asking him “what do you think this could be”. Cruz “didn’t really say much” and just sat with his “head down”, he said.
When Mr Wilford went to leave, Cruz asked him for a ride but he told him no.
Court hears testimony from officers who arrested him
The court also saw footage of Cruz’s arrest and heard testimony from the officers who took him into custody after spotting him strolling along a nearby road around one hour after the shooting.
Officer Michael Leonard of the Coconut Creek Police Department recalled how he was driving around the area on the lookout for the mass shooter and spotted someone matching his description.
The police officer pulled over and said that Cruz followed all his commands.
A second officer revealed that Cruz was carrying more than $300 in cash at the time of his arrest.
Survivor recounts being shot in arm
Survivor Benjamin Wikander recounted being shot in the arm by Cruz during the massacre.
Mr Wikander was sat in his AP Psychology in Marjory Stoneman when he heard “loud bangs” in the school.
Students ran to the back of the classroom and – soon after – shots came through the window of the door to the classroom, he said. Mr Wikander was shot in the arm and suffered nerve damage. He continues to have to wear a brace on his arm.
Remembering the victims of the massacre
12:45 , Rachel Sharp
On 14 February 2018, 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were murdered in one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history.
The 14 students killed were: Alyssa Alhadeff, Martin Duque, Nicholas Dworet, Jaime Guttenberg, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup and Peter Wang.
The three adults killed were: Scott Beigel, Chris Hixon and Aaron Feis.
Here are their stories:
Parkland victim’s widow speaks out ahead of his killer’s sentencing trial
Missed warning signs, failings, and lessons learned: What happened at Parkland
11:45 , Rachel Sharp
Almost 70 documented incidents of violence by age 19. Boasts online of being “the next school shooter”. Tips about threatening behaviour ignored by the FBI. Unlocked and unmanned gates at the school. Students and staff left to wander hallways while no active shooter alert was made. A school resource officer who hid from the gunfire for more than 45 minutes.
Nearly everything that could have gone wrong that day did.
It was Valentine’s Day 2018 and students and staff had gone to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, for the day’s classes as normal.
Some teenagers in the throes of young love had taken in flowers and cards to give to their crushes. Then, that afternoon, everything changed.
At around 2.19pm, 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz took an Uber to the school carrying an AR-15 and a bag full of hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
In less than four minutes, he had murdered 17 students and staff members.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, launched in the aftermath to investigate both the shooting and the response to it, made several recommendations of what must change going forwards.
The investigation found that there were catastrophic errors in the response to Cruz’s actions that day.
And, ahead of the day itself, a whole host of disturbing warning signs had also been ignored about what Cruz would go on to do.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp reports:
Missed warning signs, failings and lessons learned: Nikolas Cruz and Parkland
Watch: Chilling footage of Cruz going to McDonald’s after massacre
10:45 , Rachel Sharp
In court on Thursday, jurors were shown chilling surveillance footage of Cruz entering a McDonald’s and sitting down in a booth directly opposite John Wilford – a student whose sister he had just shot minutes earlier.
Watch the footage here:
School police didn’t stop shootings. So why did Biden give them $300m?
09:45 , Rachel Sharp
Campus police officers are often cited as an effective tool against gun violence. But the data shows they do little to stop school shootings — and often discriminate against students of colour.
The mass shooting in Parkland prompted Florida to require every public school in the state to have armed security personnel on campus to stop mass shootings, even though such security was present and failed at the school.
And it’s the same fix being put into place now, after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. That’s despite the fact that months of active shooter training, tens of thousands of dollars in security investments, and multiple armed police officers failed to stop gunman Salvador Ramos from entering Robb Elementary School and killing 21 people, and hundreds of officers failed to engage the 18-year-old for more than an hour as he continued shooting students inside.
The Independent’s Josh Marcus reports:
Police didn’t stop shootings in Parkland or Uvalde. Biden is giving them $300m anyway
David Hogg thrown out of House gun meeting
07:45 , Rachel Sharp
Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg was thrown out of a House Judiciary Committee meeting about gun control on Wednesday after he confronted a GOP lawmaker about “reiterating the points of mass shooters”.
Mr Hogg, a prominent gun safety advocate, was in the gallery of the meeting as Republican Rep Andy Biggs claimed that residents in his state of Arizona need assault weapons to defend themselves against the “invasion” of immigrants.
As he made his comments, Mr Hogg rose to his feet and passionately interrupted proceedings telling him that his claims echoed comments made by several mass killers.
“You’re reiterating the points of mass shooters in your manifesto!” he shouted.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Parkland survivor David Hogg thrown out of House gun control meeting
Day four recap: Chilling footage shows Cruz’s casual movements in aftermath of shooting
05:45 , Rachel Sharp
On day four of Cruz’s sentencing trial, jurors were shown chilling footage of Cruz’s calm and casual movements in the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on 14 February 2018.
After murdering 17 innocent students and staff and wounding dozens more, Cruz fled the school grounds by hiding in plain sight among the terrified students.
Surveillance footage then captured Cruz casually strolling into a nearby Subway where he approached the counter and bought a drink.
He then went into a McDonald’s, where – unbeknown to both at the time – he sat directly opposite the brother of one of the innocent students he had just shot.
Footage from inside the fast food joint captured the encounter between Cruz and John Wilford around 30 minutes after the mass shooting.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Nikolas Cruz filmed sitting with Parkland student in McDonald’s after massacre
Day three recap: Teachers emotionally recall students killed in massacre
03:45 , Rachel Sharp
In an emotional day of testimony on day three of Cruz’s sentencing trial, students and teachers from the high school described in court the events of Valentine’s Day 2018.
Former students at the school, the oldest still only in their early twenties, were composed in describing the horrors of that day when Cruz, who pleaded guilty last year, rampaged through the freshman building at the school in Parkland. Many of those who spoke were among the 17 injured in the hail of gunfire that ripped through classrooms and hallways on the afternoon of 14 February 2018.
Some of the most heart-wrenching testimony came from teachers, who at times struggled, fighting back tears, as they recounted telling students to shelter, helping them escape, tending to the wounded, and the realisation that some had been killed.
Ivy Schamis was teaching a history of the Holocaust class and leading students through a discussion about the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. She recalled star athlete Nick Dworet correctly knowing that Adolf Dassler founded the Adidas shoe company and that his brother had founded the rival Puma brand.
This moment of pride was ended when the first gunfire echoed through the hallway outside the classroom and shots pierced the glass of the windowed door.
The Independent’s Oliver O’Connell has the full story:
Parkland teachers emotionally recall students killed in massacre at shooter’s trial
Day two recap: Survivors recall high school massacre in harrowing testimony
01:45 , Rachel Sharp
On day two of the sentencing phase of Cruz’s trial, teacher and student survivors told the jury of their experiences of the massacre.
Student Christopher McKenna testified about his encounter with Cruz in the building’s stairwell on his way to the restroom shortly before the shooting began. He was chillingly told by the then 19-year-old holding an AR-15 to get out because “things were about to get bad”.
Mr McKenna said he ran out of the building and alerted Coach Aaron Feis just before gunshots began. Mr Feis took the freshman away from the scene and then went to investigate. He became one of Cruz’s victims.
At one point, approximately 15 minutes of silent security camera video was also shown in the court.
Several jurors were seen to gasp and cover their mouths in shock, as cameras tracked the shooter on his rampage around the 1200 building of the high school campus in Parkland.
The Independent’s Oliver O’Connell has the full story:
Parkland survivors recall high school massacre in harrowing testimony
Day one recap: Parkland school killer hides face as horrific videos of massacre played
Friday 22 July 2022 00:45 , Rachel Sharp
Memories of that horrific day came flooding back on Monday as a Florida court considered whether to give Cruz, now 23, the death penalty, for killing 17 students and teachers and wounding 17 others.
Prosecutors played cellphone video of the shooting, where shots could be heard ringing out and a voice is captured saying, “Someone help me.”
Prosecutors played cellphone video of the shooting, where shots could be heard ringing out and a voice is captured saying, “Someone help me.”
Danielle Gilbert, a student at the time, captured the videos, and testified that she and her fellow students felt like “sitting ducks.” She openly wept on the stand as the clip was played.
In the gallery, many of the victims’ family members looked on and could be seen consoling one another, while some rushed out of the courtroom entirely rather than relive that day.
The Independent’s Josh Marcus has the full story:
Nikolas Cruz hides face as videos of Parkland massacre shown at death penalty hearing
Widow of Parkland hero opens up about trauma
Thursday 21 July 2022 23:45 , Rachel Sharp
Last Thursday, Debbi Hixon should have been celebrating her 32nd wedding anniversary with her husband.
Instead, she was preparing herself to come face to face with his killer in court.
On 14 February 2018, Chris Hixon was murdered along with 16 other people in the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.
More than four years later, Nikolas Cruz is finally in court for his sentencing hearing where a jury will decide if he should face life in prison or death for the heinous killings.
Debbi tells The Independent how she hopes the trial will finally enable her family to start to grieve.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp reports:
Parkland victim’s widow speaks out ahead of his killer’s sentencing trial
Day four recap: Cruz’s movements in aftermath of shooting
Thursday 21 July 2022 22:45 , Rachel Sharp
Day four of the sentencing trial largely focused on Nikolas Cruz’s movements in the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting, with jurors shown footage of the gunman at various locations before his arrest.
Here’s a recap of the main points from 21 July:
Footage shows Cruz calmly going to Subway after shooting
The court was shown surveillance footage of Cruz calmly strolling into a nearby Subway store around 25 minutes after the shooting.
In the footage, Cruz casually walks up to the counter and buys a cherry and blue ice drink before he casually walks out of the restaurant again drinking it.
The court heard testimony from Carlos Rugeles, the manager of the Subway store, who recalled serving Cruz that day.
Cruz went to McDonald’s and sat with brother of student he had just shot
After leaving the Subway, Cruz calmly went to a McDonald’s. Chilling surveillance footage was played in court showing Cruz entering the restaurant and sitting down in a booth directly opposite John Wilford – a student whose sister he had just shot minutes earlier.
Mr Wilford, who was in ninth grade at Marjory Stoneman, testified that he evacuated from the building and couldn’t get in touch with his sister. He arranged for his mother to pick him up from McDonald’s.
He said he started speaking to Cruz about what had happened saying “this is so chaotic” and asking him “what do you think this could be”. Cruz “didn’t really say much” and just sat with his “head down”, he said.
When Mr Wilford went to leave, Cruz asked him for a ride but he told him no.
Court hears testimony from officers who arrested him
The court also saw footage of Cruz’s arrest and heard testimony from the officers who took him into custody after spotting him strolling along a nearby road around one hour after the shooting.
Officer Michael Leonard of the Coconut Creek Police Department recalled how he was driving around the area on the lookout for the mass shooter and spotted someone matching his description.
The police officer pulled over and said that Cruz followed all his commands.
A second officer revealed that Cruz was carrying more than $300 in cash at the time of his arrest.
Survivor recounts being shot in arm
Survivor Benjamin Wikander recounted being shot in the arm by Cruz during the massacre.
Mr Wikander was sat in his AP Psychology in Marjory Stoneman when he heard “loud bangs” in the school.
Students ran to the back of the classroom and – soon after – shots came through the window of the door to the classroom, he said. Mr Wikander was shot in the arm and suffered nerve damage. He continues to have to wear a brace on his arm.
Day four of the sentencing trial in pictures
Thursday 21 July 2022 21:45 , Rachel Sharp
Victims’ families arrive in court for day four of the trial
Nikolas Cruz sits with his head in his hands during some of the session
Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Benjamin Wikander shows the brace he still wears on his hand after he was shot in the attack
Surveillance video shows Nikolas Cruz in Subway buying a drink minutes after the shooting
Surveillance video then shows Nikolas Cruz entering a McDonald’s and sitting opposite the brother of one of his victims soon after the shooting
Student John Wilford testifies about his encounter with Cruz in McDonald’s
Officer Michael Leonard of the Coconut Creek Police Department recalls the moment he arrested Cruz
Footage from Nikolas Cruz’s arrest is played in court
Cruz’s brother files motion to ban state from asking certain questions
Thursday 21 July 2022 20:45 , Rachel Sharp
Nikolas Cruz’s brother has filed a motion seeking to ban prosecutors from asking him certain questions when he is called to the witness stand at the sentencing trial.
Zachary Cruz, the adopted brother of the school shooter, and his roommate Richard Moore filed a motion this week arguing that some of the questions in the state’s deposition are not appropriate.
“The majority of the information the State seeks, touches intimately on the home, marital, and family life of the Deponents,” the court document reads.
“The information further is tied to perceived political activities, political views, and membership or participation in certain protest movements and activist groups.”
Zachary Cruz and Mr Moore are both expected to be called as witnesses for the defence in the case.
The motion was to be discussed on Thursday afternoon.
Chilling footage shows moment Nikolas Cruz sits next to student in McDonald’s – minutes after he shot the boy’s sister
Thursday 21 July 2022 19:45 , Rachel Sharp
Chilling surveillance footage has captured the moment that Nikolas Cruz calmly entered a McDonald’s and sat next to a student – just minutes after he had shot the boy’s sister in one of the deadliest school shootings in US history.
On day four of Cruz’s sentencing trial, jurors were shown footage of the gunman in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on 14 February 2018.
After murdering 17 innocent students and staff and wounding dozens more, Cruz fled the school grounds by hiding in plain sight among the terrified students.
He then casually walked to a nearby Subway for a drink and then onto a McDonald’s, where – unbeknown to both at the time – he sat directly opposite the brother of one of the innocent students he had just shot.
Surveillance footage from inside the McDonald’s captured the encounter between Cruz and John Wilford inside the fast food joint around 30 minutes after the mass shooting.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Nikolas Cruz filmed sitting with Parkland student in McDonald’s after massacre
Watch: Surveillance footage captures Cruz casually going to Subway after massacre
Thursday 21 July 2022 18:50 , Rachel Sharp
Harrowing surveillance footage captured Nikolas Cruz casually going to Subway just minutes after he shot and killed 14 students and three staff members inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
In the video, Cruz is seen casually strolling into the store and up to the counter, where he buys a cherry and blue ice drink.
He then calmdly walks out of the fast food joint with the drink.
Cruz fled the scene of the mass shooting moments earlier, by hiding in plain sight among terrified students and staff evacauating the school. From there, he walked to the nearby Subway.
Watch the footage below:
A timeline of the Parkland massacre
Thursday 21 July 2022 17:54 , Rachel Sharp
On 14 February 2018, Nikolas Cruz carried out one of the worst school shooting’s in US history.
Cruz was a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School before he was expelled over his disciplinary record.
That day, he took an Uber to the school armed with a legally-purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and gunned down 14 students and three members of staff.
The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad has details about the timeline of the day’s events:
A timeline of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting
Court argues over jury visiting high school
Thursday 21 July 2022 16:44 , Rachel Sharp
After the jury left the courtroom for the day, the prosecution and the defence argued over the conditions around the panel visiting the site of the massacre.
During the sentencing trial, jurors will take a tour of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School as they decide whether to sentence Nikolas Cruz to life in prison or to give him the death penalty for the murder of 17 innocent students and staff.
The school has been preserved as it was that day on 14 February 2018 when Cruz carried out one of the worst school shootings in US history.
The dried blood, abandoned Valentine’s Day gifts and bullet holes remain in place.
Back in April, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer ruled that the jury would get to tour the building in person.
The defence had argued that the tour was not necessary because Cruz had pleaded guilty and that there are videos and photos of the crime scene.
The prosecution however said that they wanted jurors to see the path the killer took through the building as he carried out his attack.
The judge sided with the prosecution saying that “a jury view of the crime scene remains useful and proper” to the trial.
On Thursday, prosecutors pushed back at a motion put forward by the defence requesting that jurors are not allowed to enter the classrooms of the school.
“Victims were killed, victims were shot in those classrooms,” said prosecutors, saying that they object to jurors not being able to go inside the rooms.
Prosecutors agreed to the defence’s request that jurors wear face masks during the tour.
Court adjourns for day
Thursday 21 July 2022 16:23 , Rachel Sharp
The court has adjourned for the day.
Day four of the sentencing trial had been scheduled as a half day and prosecutors said just after 11am ET that they would not be calling any other witnesses for the day.
The court will resume at 10am ET on Friday.
Court is shown clothing worn by Cruz during massacre
Thursday 21 July 2022 16:19 , Rachel Sharp
The court was shown the clothing worn by Nikolas Cruz when he carried out the massacre on 14 February 2018.
Jurors were shown the red Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School JROTC polo shirt and black denim pants recovered from Cruz that day.
Clint Williams, who works at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, testified that he recovered the items from Cruz when he met him at the emergency room following his arrest.
Mr Williams also told the court how he had gone to North Broward Hospital and took photos of two of the deceased victims – Chris Hixon and Gina Montalto.
Cruz had more than $300 in cash at time of arrest
Thursday 21 July 2022 16:10 , Rachel Sharp
Police Officer Kyle Greene is the next to testify as the court resumed after the morning recess.
Officer Greene arrived on the scene of Nikolas Cruz’s 14 February 2018 arrest moments after Officer Leonard had already spotted and detained him.
He testified that he seized a hat, a receipt and more than $300 in cash from Cruz during his arrest.
Cruz had six $50 bills, a $20 bill, a $10 bill and some dollar bills on him at the time of his arrest, he testified.
Court takes short recess
Thursday 21 July 2022 15:41 , Rachel Sharp
The court is taking a short recess.
Police officer tells court about his arrest of Cruz
Thursday 21 July 2022 15:33 , Rachel Sharp
A police officer told the court about the moment he arrested Nikolas Cruz, as the killer walked along a road in the aftermath of the mass shooting.
Officer Leonard testified that he responded to the mass shooting and was driving around the area on the lookout for the mass shooter.
A description had been circulated among police officers of the person wanted for carrying out the attack.
Officer Leonard said he spotted someone matching the description and pulled over in his car.
Cruz “turned around and looked at me”, he said, and the officer began shouting commands at him.
The police officer said that Cruz followed all his instructions and commands and told him his name when asked.
Footage of the arrest was played in the court.
Student recalls Cruz sitting next to him in McDonald’s – moments after he had shot his sister
Thursday 21 July 2022 15:23 , Rachel Sharp
A student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School testified how Nikolas Cruz sat right next to him in McDonald’s and spoke to him – just moments after he had shot his sister in the attack.
John Wilford was in ninth grade in the school at the time of the 14 February 2018 massacre. His sister Madeleine Wilford was also a student in the school.
Mr Wilford recalled how he was evacuated from the school when the fire alarm went off.
At first, he thought it was a typical fire drill until police arrived and told him and his fellow students to leave the area.
After he evacuated the school, he walked with a friend to a Wal-Mart and tried to call his mother and sister.
He managed to get in touch with his mother and they arranged to meet at the McDonald’s.
He told the court that he arrived at the McDonald’s and sat down in a booth while he waited for his mother to pick him up in her car.
“Then Nik Cruz came and sat down right next to me,” he said.
Mr Wilfrod said that he had never met Cruz before and didn’t think too much about him sitting by him at the time as he was too busy worrying about his sister.
“I didn’t think much of it as I was panicked,” he said.
Mr Wilford said he assumed Cruz was also a student at the school because he was wearing the JROTC shirt.
He said he started speaking to Cruz about what had happened saying “this is so chaotic” and asking him “what do you think this could be”.
Cruz “didn’t really say much” and just sat with his “head down”, he said.
When Mr Wilford went to leave, he said Cruz started talking to him and asked him for a ride.
He told Cruz no, testifying that he was worried about his sister and just wanted to get home.
Surveillance footage from inside the McDonald’s captured the interaction between them, showing Cruz sitting directly opposite Mr Wilford in a booth – despite their being several empty booths and tables around them.
Footage then captured Cruz follow Mr Wilford outside the restaurant and speak to him.
Mr Wilford said that he got in the car with his mother and they drove away.
Mr Wilford recalled seeing Cruz again walking along a nearby road.
McDonalds supervisor testifies
Thursday 21 July 2022 15:06 , Rachel Sharp
The supervisor of a McDonald’s store was next to take the stand.
He testified that he was called to the store on 14 February 2018 to assist police in the investigation.
After killing 17 innocent victims inside the school, Cruz walked to a nearby Subway for a drink and then onto a McDonald’s.
At the McDonald’s, he sat directly opposite the relative of one of the students he had just shot.
Chilling surveillance footage shows Nikolas Cruz calmly getting drink from Subway after massacre
Thursday 21 July 2022 15:00 , Rachel Sharp
Chilling surveillance footage was played to the jury showing Nikolas Cruz calmly walking into a Subway restaurant and buying a drink just minutes after murdering 17 in the high school massacre.
The footage captured Cruz walking to the counter where he bought a cherry and blue ice drink.
After buying the drink, he casually walks out of the restaurant again drinking the drink.
Some of the families of the victims were seen shaking their heads and wiping their eyes as they watched the chilling footage.
Carlos Augeles, the manager of the Subway store, took the stand and recalled serving Cruz in the aftermath of the mass shooting.
First witness of the day testifies about being shot in the arm
Thursday 21 July 2022 14:49 , Rachel Sharp
The first witness to testify on Thursday was student Benjamin Wikander who was shot in the arm during the massacre.
Mr Wikander told the court how he was sat in his AP Psychology in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when the shooting began.
He said it was about 20 minutes before the end of the class when he heard “loud bangs” in the school.
Students ran to the back of the classroom and – soon after – shots came through the window of the door to the classroom, he said.
Mr Wikander was shot in the arm and suffered nerve damage which he said still hasn’t fully grown back.
He continues to have to wear a brace on his arm.
Court resumes for day four of sentencing trial
Thursday 21 July 2022 14:40 , Rachel Sharp
The court has resumed for day four of the sentencing trial of Nikolas Cruz.
Judge Elizabeth Scherer has taken her place at the bench and the jury has been seated in the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Day three recap: Teachers emotionally recall students killed in massacre
Thursday 21 July 2022 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell
In an emotional day of testimony at the penalty phase of the trial of Nikolas Cruz, students and teachers from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School described in court the events of Valentine’s Day 2018, when 14 teenagers and three staff were murdered by the gunman.
Former students at the school, the oldest still only in their early twenties, were composed in describing the horrors of that day when Cruz, who pleaded guilty last year, rampaged through the freshman building at the school in Parkland, Florida.
As with Tuesday’s testimony, most of those who spoke were among the 17 injured in the hail of gunfire that ripped through classrooms and hallways on the afternoon of 14 February 2018.
Some of the most heart-wrenching testimony came from teachers, who at times struggled, fighting back tears, as they recounted telling students to shelter, helping them escape, tending to the wounded, and the realisation that some had been killed.
Parkland teachers emotionally recall students killed in massacre at shooter’s trial
Day two recap: Survivors recall high school massacre in harrowing testimony
Thursday 21 July 2022 13:00 , Oliver O'Connell
On day two of the sentencing phase in the trial of Nikolas Cruz, who committed one of the worst mass shootings in US history at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, teacher and student survivors told the jury of their experiences that day.
While the first day of the trial included horrifying cellphone footage recorded by students as Cruz opened fire on classrooms on 14 February 2018, day two of proceedings included approximately 15 minutes of silent security camera video shown only in court.
Several jurors were seen to gasp and cover their mouths in shock, as cameras tracked the shooter on his rampage around the 1200 building of the high school campus in Parkland, Florida.
Parkland survivors recall high school massacre in harrowing testimony
Watch Parkland teacher explains how he helped a dozen students to safety
Thursday 21 July 2022 12:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Day one recap: Parkland school killer Nikolas Cruz hides face as horrific videos of massacre played
Thursday 21 July 2022 11:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Memories of that horrific day came flooding back on Monday as a Florida court considered whether to give Cruz, now 23, the death penalty, for killing 17 students and teachers and wounding 17 others.
Prosecutors played cellphone video of the shooting, where shots could be heard ringing out and a voice is captured saying, “Someone help me.”
Josh Marcus reports.
Nikolas Cruz hides face as videos of Parkland massacre shown at death penalty hearing
Teacher testifies about helping wounded students
Thursday 21 July 2022 10:00 , Oliver O'Connell
“I went over to the door and tried to get the attention [of police] as soon as I could get them to our classroom because we were hit,” Ms Reoven explained.
“I went over to the broken glass in the broken window and just tried to get their attention, calling for help... moments later they came.”
Jurors see gruesome video of Florida school shooting
Thursday 21 July 2022 09:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Jurors in the penalty trial of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz viewed graphic video Tuesday of him murdering 17 people as he stalked through Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School four years ago.
The video was not shown to the gallery, where parents of many of the victims sat. The 12 jurors and 10 alternates stared intently at their video screens. Many held hands to their faces as they viewed the 15-minute recording, which has no sound.
Some started squirming. One juror looked at the screen, looked up at Cruz with his eyes wide and then returned to the video.
Jurors see gruesome video of Florida school shooting
Parkland shooting survivor says gunman told him to ‘get out’ before massacre
Thursday 21 July 2022 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell
“I walked into a man, he was wearing a maroon shirt with a backpack and hat on, black pants, he had a rifle in his hands,” Christopher McKenna said.
“I was stunned and he said to me “get out of here, things are about to get bad”.
A timeline of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting
Thursday 21 July 2022 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Joe Sommerlad reconstructs the timeline of events around the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.
A timeline of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting
Flashback: Parkland families to get $127.5m settlement for FBI inaction
Thursday 21 July 2022 04:00 , Oliver O'Connell
The US Department of Justice has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the families of most of those killed or injured in the 2018 Florida high school massacre.
The FBI was unable to stop the gunman despite intelligence inputs on his plan to attack, federal officials said on Wednesday.
Families of Parkland shooting victims to get $127.5m for FBI inaction
