Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people with a semi-automatic rifle at a school in Parkland, Fla., has been formally sentenced to life in prison without parole.
·Linda Beigel Schulmanm hugs Debbie Hixon after Hixon gave a victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz.
Scherer had no other choice as the jury in Cruz's three-month penalty trial voted 9-3 on Oct. 13 to sentence him to death, but Florida law requires unanimity for that sentence to be imposed. The judge commended the families and wounded who testified, calling them strong, graceful and patient.Many of the victims's families also criticized the Florida law that requires jury unanimity for a death sentence to be imposed.
"A person has to be incredibly sick to want to hurt another human being. Even sicker to dwell on the desire and craft a plan and unimaginably evil to execute that plan, which didn't just hurt people but ended lives," she said. Tony Montalto embraces his son, Anthony, after Anthony gave his victim impact statement Wednesday. Montalto's daughter, Gina, Anthony's sister, was killed in the 2018 shootings.
Thomas Hixon, a Marine veteran, recalled Cruz claiming remorse a year ago when he pleaded guilty to the murders, setting the stage for the penalty trial.
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