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January 1, DeSantis Slams Jury’s Decision: “You Deserve the Death Penalty”
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…
1982: U.S. President Ronald Reagan proclaims a war on drugs.
The gunman in the 2018 Parkland school shooting has avoided the death penalty after a jury recommended that he be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole — a decision that was rebuked by some of the victims’ family members and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
On Thursday, the jury handed down its recommendation for Nikolas Cruz’s punishment for the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. However, it is not the official sentence. Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer is expected to issue the shooter’s formal sentence on November 1. But under Florida law, she cannot depart from the jury’s recommendation of life without parole.
Family members quickly condemned the jury’s decision.
“I am disgusted with our legal system. I am disgusted with those jurors,” said Ilan Alhadeff, the father of victim Alyssa Alhadeff, 14. “That you can allow 17 dead and 17 others shot and wounded and not give the death penalty. What do we have the death penalty for? What is the purpose of it? You set a precedent today. You set a precedent for the next mass killing, that nothing happens to you. You’ll get life in jail. I’m sorry – that is not OK. As a country we need to stand up and say that’s not OK!”
Tony Montalto, whose 14-year-old daughter Gina was killed in the shooting, called the decision a “gut punch” for the victims’ families.
“This shooter did not deserve compassion,” Montalto said. “Did he show the compassion to Gina when he put the weapon against her chest and chose to pull that trigger, or any of the other three times that he shot her? Was that compassionate?”
The decision was also rebuked by DeSantis, who said that the death penalty would have been more appropriate.
“I think that if you have a death penalty at all, that that is a case, where you’re massacring those students, with premeditation and utter disregard for humanity, that you deserve the death penalty,” DeSantis told reporters. “I just don’t think anything else is appropriate except a capital sentence in this case. And so, I was very disappointed to see that.”
“This stings. It was not what we were hoping for…if that would’ve gone the correct way, I would’ve done everything in my power to expedite that process forward,” he added. “Nevertheless, we are where we are today. But it is disappointing nonetheless.”
Last October, Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder. The defense had argued that Cruz, 24, had neurodevelopmental disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.
Prosecutors had asked the jury to sentence the shooter to death, arguing that the heinous act was premeditated and calculated, and not related to any neurological defects.
Debra Hixon, the widow of the school’s athletic director, 49-year-old Christopher Hixon, rejected the defense’s arguments about the shooter’s mental struggles, citing one of her sons who has special needs.
“I have a son that checked … a lot of those boxes that the shooter did as well,” Hixon said. “And you know what? My son’s not a murderer. My son’s the sweetest person that you could ever meet.”
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Don
October 14, 2022 at 8:18 am
It’s time Sparky is cranked back up and these savages removed permanently from society so taxpayers don’t provide care they don’t deserve.
William G Munson
October 14, 2022 at 10:20 am
Well I will tell you they Reward him with Life after he killed 17 innocent Kids and feed him well to and keep him comfortable too
VON
October 14, 2022 at 1:48 pm
SHAME YOU REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT KILLER WILL EXPERIENCE…….HE WILL HAVE PAIN THAT HE NEVER KNEW EXISTED, AND IT WILL BE EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE……THOSE INMATES HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR CHILD KILLERS……….
mike grunewald
October 14, 2022 at 7:31 pm
you are full of crap get rid of this dirt bag for EVER
john fudacz
October 14, 2022 at 8:18 am
this clown deserves the death penalty what about all these killers in prison that claime mental incompentance ,which stops them from being responcible for their actions !
maxi
October 14, 2022 at 8:52 am
there is a time when capital punishment is appropriate and this is one of those times. With life can this guy ever be paroled. |After all obama pardoned terrorits about nearly three thousand of them. Killers are freed from arrest daily in liberal cities so how long will it be before they find an excuse to free this one.
maxi
October 14, 2022 at 8:52 am
there is a time when capital punishment is appropriate and this is one of those times. With life can this guy ever be paroled. |After all obama pardoned terrorits about nearly three thousand of them. Killers are freed from arrest daily in liberal cities so how long will it be before they find an excuse to free this one.
Brer
October 14, 2022 at 10:15 am
This is our non justice justice system.
Yappy Nitram
October 14, 2022 at 10:14 am
Wait I’m confused. In the 4th line of this article it says: ” However, it is not the official sentence.” Yet in the 5th line it states: ” But under Florida law, she cannot depart from the jury’s recommendation of life without parole”. So which is it? Can she change it or not? If all she is going to say is” You are hereby remanded to the nearest prison for the rest of your life without the possibility of parole” why waste the tax-payer’s money and this POS directly to jail.
PROUDWHITE
October 14, 2022 at 11:17 am
CHILD KILLERR, will do JUST FINE in a Prison. Wait….Say, what you may, but I was a Correction Officer for 28 Years. INMATES, will “do the right thing” once they find out what this scumbag did. Many Inmates have families….How do I feel*? I won’t shed a TEAR, when….and they will….give him what he deserves. There are ZERO “Bleeding Democrat Hearts” in Prison towards or for KILLERS of CHILDREN. Wait..
Roscoe Roules
October 14, 2022 at 12:15 pm
With any luck every one of the gutless people on Cruz’s jury panel will suffer a heart wrenching loss like the survivors of Parkland before their lives end that will utterly destroy them.
VON
October 14, 2022 at 1:45 pm
QUITE SURE THAT PRISON WILL NOT BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR THAT KILLER……..THEY WERE KIDS THAT HE SHOT……HE WILL WIND UP AS SOMEONE’S OR EVERYONE’S GIRLFRIEND…….HIS “JUST” DESSERTS ARE JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY………..
AmericanSpirit
October 14, 2022 at 3:08 pm
All this is NOT what you think about justice. Even if the death penalty was issued, it can be changed. What ? 1982 the most heinous case Florida had ever had. It was a horror story and it was my brother and brother in law and family friend. Tied up and put face down. My brother’s son was put into the bathroom. He was only 8 yrs old. Men your killed by shot gun . At eight feet. The bodies were climbed over by my brother’s son. He called 911 and was alone. His call was the most painful voice I ever heard. All shooter’s were caught. All four were given death. Think it is closed ? No at all, 11 years later…… the 11 th circuit court (liberals)decided death was too………harsh for the crime. Three shooters were given 75 years and one shooter, death held. That has been 40 years………. It really matters who is elected. You must have real conservative judges in the courts. I learned a a great deal about judges, law your rights verses the shooters. They get many perks, you pay for. And they receive a small amount of money for “being good”. Free dental, medical, education, air conditioning, color TV. All PERKS PAID BY YOU. And the fatal kick in the gut. The legal system is always looking for ways to find “error” with the judgement, against them. It is never over. One wrote me…………he asked for forgiveness. I gave one word as his answer…………. But knew better to say what I wanted to say to him. My heart breaks for the families. I know they will be jacked around for years. Peace? Not likely. The depth of pain is searing … and it is forever. The shooter earned death. An eye for an eye is justice. He made his choice. The children……..had no choices. Where is justice ?
Jim
October 14, 2022 at 8:36 pm
There are a lot of mentally ill people out there that have never hurt anyone. Fry the bastard. Capital punishment= no repeat offenders.
Rob
October 15, 2022 at 3:01 am
The problem here is a system that allows a person that WON”T give a death penalty to be on a jury in a case that is obvious if convicted that is what should be given. Another victory for wokeness!