FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz, the Broward State Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
At least one victim's family said Tuesday that they felt the announcement was premature and they wished prosecutors had spoken with them before making a decision.
"I wish they would have asked the families what they wanted before they made that announcement," said Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed in the Feb. 14 mass shooting. "We were under the impression that, after the arraignment on Wednesday, we would have an opportunity to speak with the prosecutors before a decision was made."
Fred Guttenberg said he spoke with a victim's advocate within the first week after the murders but thought he would have another opportunity to provide his input.
The decision undermines a defense strategy that would have resolved the case without a trial _ Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein and the defense team has offered to have Cruz plead guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in exchange for a sentence of life in prison.
But the State Attorney's Office wouldn't take capital punishment off the table, listing seven "aggravating factors" that a jury can use to justify ordering Cruz's execution for the Feb. 14 shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Those factors include the "heinous, atrocious and cruel" nature of the crime, and the "cold, calculated and premeditated" manner in which it was carried out.
Chief Assistant Public Defender Gordon Weekes said Cruz and his defense team stands by their prior position.
"We are still ready to enter a plea of 'guilty' to several consecutive life sentences, without parole, out of respect for the victims of this tragedy," Weekes said.
