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
