Parkland school mass shooter pleads guilty, apologizes to victims

Elizabeth Scherer, Broward County Judge: “And you said that you have been perhaps informally diagnosed with with depression and anxiety. Did you think of anything else since Friday?”

Nikolas Cruz. Parkland School Shooter: “No.”

Scherer: “OK. And are either of those issues disturbing you in any way today?”

Cruz: “Yes.”

Scherer: “So the depression and anxiety are bothering you today?”

Cruz: “Not the depression, just a little anxiety.”

Scherer: “Ok, a little anxiety is normal under the circumstances. What I need to know is, are you able to to understand me and listen to me when I’m speaking to you?”

Cruz: “Yes, ma’am.”

Scherer: “And are you able to follow along with your lawyers when they speak to you?”

Cruz: “Yes, ma’am.”

Scherer: “Are you having any trouble concentrating?”

Cruz: “No.”

Scherer: “And other than being nervous or anxious, are you, are you having any difficulty understanding anything that’s going on here today?”

Cruz: “No. I understand what’s going on.”

Scherer “OK.”

Scherer: “OK, Mr. Cruz, I’m going to go over each charge with you and ask you how you wish to plea in these matters now, if you don’t have any questions?

Cruz: “I do not have questions.”

Scherer: “All right, to count one of the indictment, murder and the first degree of victim Luke Hoyer, how do you wish to plea?”

Cruz: “Guilty”

Scherer: “To count two of the indictment, murder in the first degree of Martin Duque Anguiano? How do you wish to plea?”

Cruz: “Guilty.”

Scherer: “Count three of the indictment murder in the first degree of Gina Montalto. How do you wish to plea?”

Cruz “Guilty.”

Scherer: “Attempted murder in the first degree of Daniela Menescal? How do you wish to plea?”

Cruz: “Guilty”

Scherer: “Count 25, attempted Murder in the first degree of Samantha Grady. How do you wish to plea?”

Cruz: “Guilty”

Scherer: “Count 26, attempted Murder in the first degree of Samantha Fuentes. How do you wish to plea?”

Cruz: “Guilty.”

Scherer: “Count 34, attempted murder in the first degree of Kyle Laman. How do you wish to plea?”

Cruz: “Guilty.”

Scherer:” I accept your plea of guilty. I find that you are alert and intelligent that you had made an informed decision with the advice of counsel.”

Cruz: “I am very sorry for what I did. And I have to live with it every day. And if I were to get a second chance, I would do everything in my power to try to help others. And I am doing this for you, and I do not care if you do not believe me. And I love you and I know you don’t believe me. But I have to live with this every day and brings me nightmares. And I can’t live with myself sometimes, but I try to push through because I know that’s what you guys would want me to do. I hate drugs. And I believe this country would do better if everyone will stop smoking marijuana and doing all these drugs and causing racism and violence out in the streets. I’m sorry and I can’t even watch TV anymore. And I’m trying my best to maintain my composure. And I just want you to know I’m really sorry, and I hope you give me a chance to try to help others. I believe it’s your decision to decide where I go and whether I live or die. Not the jury’s. I believe, it’s your decision. I’m sorry.”

Cruz: “What I meant was that I believe they should have the right to choose, the victims themselves, on whether I should take life or death.”

Scherer: “So in other words, you’re urging the victims to encourage the state to waive it and sentence you to life?”

Melisa O’Neill, Cruz’s Attorney: “Judge, may I interject?”

Scherer: “Sure.”

Melisa O’Neill, Cruz’s Attorney: “I think what Mr Cruz was saying was that ultimately in his heart, he believes it should be the victims’ families will make the decision about life or death. We have, however, explained to Mr. Cruz that it will in fact be the jury that will make that decision after the presentation of evidence of aggravators and mitigators in phase two. This, I believe, is just his personal belief. It is in conflict with the law but he understands the law.”

Cruz: “Yeah”

Scherer: “OK. Mr Cruz, is that correct?”

Cruz: “Yes.”