Nikolas Cruz has been formally charged for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14. A grand jury charged Cruz with 17 counts of premeditated murder in the first-degree and 17 additional counts of attempted murder in the first degree, according to Daily Beast. If convicted of the charges, Cruz could face the death penalty.
On Valentine's Day, Cruz killed 17 students and teachers, injuring many others with an AR-15. The 19-year-old confessed to the killings shortly after being arrested. NBC reports that in addition to the charges, several survivors injured during the rampage are planning to sue for damages, including Anthony Borges who was “shot five times, suffering life-threatening injuries." Borges is currently still in the hospital recovering.
Other student survivors have been restlessly organizing and protesting for stricter gun control laws. Some have organized a nationwide protest dubbed the “March For Our Lives” set to take place in Washington D.C. on March 24.
Both Betsy DeVos and NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade visited the high school this week, the former getting a much colder reception and criticism for not answering students’ questions about gun reform.
Florida politicians recently voted down a bill that would have banned assault weapons like the one that Cruz used three weeks ago. They are currently preparing to vote on a new measure that would allow teachers and other staff to carry weapons on school campuses.
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