Florida jury recommends life in prison without parole – and NOT the death penalty – for Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, 24, who gunned down 17 high school students and staff in 2018
- Nikolas Cruz, 24, avoids the death penalty after jury recommends life in prison
- Jurors returned the verdict recommending life in prison after just a day of deliberations. A formal sentencing will be held on November 1
- Cruz pleaded guilty last year to murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018
- Under Florida law, a death sentence could only have been handed down if jurors unanimously recommended he be executed. The only other option was life
- Reuters initially reported that the jury recommended the death penalty for Cruz, but issued a correction shortly after