Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Parkland school killer formally sentenced to life in prison
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz sits at the defense table during a victim impact statements at his sentencing hearing at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. Cruz was sentenced to life in prison for murdering 17 people at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School more than four years ago. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Latest News
November 2, 2022

Parkland school killer formally sentenced to life in prison

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) — Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz formally received a sentence of life without parole Wednesday after families of his 17 slain victims spent two days berating him as evil, a coward, a monster and a subhuman who deserves a painful death.

Cruz, shackled and in a red jail jumpsuit, showed no emotion as Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer pronounced one-by-one 34 consecutive life sentences — one each for the slain and the 17 he wounded during the February 14, 2018, massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in suburban Fort Lauderdale.

The judge’s voice broke as she read the first sentences, but she gained strength and volume as she moved down the list. Scherer had no other choice in sentencing; the jury in Cruz’s three-month penalty trial voted 9-3 on October 13 to sentence him to death, but Florida law requires unanimity for that sentence to be imposed.

Scherer made no comments directed at Cruz beyond what was legally required. Instead, the judge commended the victims’ families and the wounded, calling them strong, graceful and patient.

“I know you are going to be OK, because you have each other,” Scherer said.

Some parents and other family members of the slain wept as she spoke. When she finished and Cruz was led from the courtroom, one father muttered “Good riddance.” They then gathered into groups and hugged each other.

Cruz, 24 and a former Stoneman Douglas student, pleaded guilty last year to the massacre, where he stalked a three-story classroom building for seven minutes, firing 140 shots with a semi-automatic rifle. He will be taken within days to the Florida prison system’s processing center near Miami before he is assigned to a maximum-security facility. Experts say he will likely be placed into protective custody, perhaps for years, before he is released into the prison’s general population.

The sentencing came after the families and the wounded spent two days verbally thrashing Cruz while mourning their loved ones. Many wished him a painful demise and lamented that he could not be sentenced to death. Others said that after leaving court Wednesday, they would try not to think of him again.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Jamaica’s Richards repeats as world indoors high jump bronze medallist
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica’s Richards repeats as world indoors high jump bronze medallist
March 21, 2026
Raymond Richards has won back-to-back World Athletics Indoor Championships bronze medals in the men’s high jump. He shared third place with Korea’s Sa...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Goule-Toppin, Anderson miss out on 800m finals at word indoors
Latest News, Sports
Goule-Toppin, Anderson miss out on 800m finals at word indoors
March 21, 2026
Jamaica’s 800m representatives Natoya Goule-Toppin and Navasky Anderson both failed to get past their semi-finals on Saturday’s second day of the Worl...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica appeals disqualification in mixed 4x400m at world indoors
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica appeals disqualification in mixed 4x400m at world indoors
March 21, 2026
Observer Online understands that Jamaican officials have appealed the disqualification of the country’s mixed 4x400m relay team on Saturday’s second d...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
World Indoors: Jonielle Smith, Brianna Lyston advance in style in women’s 60m
Latest News, Sports
World Indoors: Jonielle Smith, Brianna Lyston advance in style in women’s 60m
March 21, 2026
Jamaica’s Jonielle Smith and Brianna Lyston were both impressive in their qualification for the semi-finals of the women’s 60m on Saturday’s second da...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
World Indoors: Demario Prince and Jerome Campbell into 60m hurdles semis
Latest News, Sports
World Indoors: Demario Prince and Jerome Campbell into 60m hurdles semis
March 21, 2026
Demario Prince and Jerome Campbell made progress to the semi-finals of the men’s 60m hurdles on Saturday’s second day of the World Athletics Indoor Ch...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
60 greatest rocksteady personalities (30 – 16)
Entertainment, Latest News
60 greatest rocksteady personalities (30 – 16)
March 20, 2026
While never revered as ska, roots-reggae or dancehall, rocksteady is arguably the most loved of the Jamaican music forms. The genre, which produced a ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
15-y-o in custody after fatal stabbing in St Mary
Latest News, News
15-y-o in custody after fatal stabbing in St Mary
March 20, 2026
ST MARY, Jamaica — A 15-year-old is now in police custody following the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Javarntai Taitam from Belfield, St Mary. The inc...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jury signals tech titans on hook for social media addiction
International News, Latest News
Jury signals tech titans on hook for social media addiction
March 20, 2026
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) —A question by jurors in a landmark social media addiction trial on Friday signalled Meta or YouTube may have to pay ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct