Florida jury sworn in to determine school shooter's penalty
The jury that will decide whether Nikolas Cruz should get the death penalty for killing 17 people in the 2018 shooting rampage at a Parkland, Florida, high school was finally selected Wednesday, after a painstaking, stop-and-start process that took nearly three months. The defense wound up using all 10 of its peremptory challenges, eliminating candidates for any reason other than race or gender, while the prosecution used four. On Wednesday, the defense used its final strikes to eliminate a retired insurance company executive and a banking executive who had been tentatively on the panel when court adjourned Tuesday.
news.yahoo.comTerror at DC Rally after Screaming Man Reportedly Claimed He was Armed
Washington, D.C. Gun violence survivors and their families were left in terror Saturday at the March For Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., after a man close to the stage reportedly began shouting that he was armed. The disruption came during a moment of silence for the 21 lives lost in the Uvalde, Texas, school […]
news.yahoo.comGOP Rep. John Cornyn slammed by parent of Parkland shooting victim after saying 'finger pointing' at police is 'destructive, distracting, and unfair'
"It is also fair to say that without the failure to act by Senators like you, these shootings may never have happened," Fred Guttenberg added.
news.yahoo.comManuel Oliver, father of Parkland shooting victim, addresses Texas elementary school shooting: "The families don't need your freaking hearts. They need their kids."
"My innocent son Joaquin was shot four times with an AR-15. And today, we saw an 18-year-old in Texas was able to carry a weapon and kill kids inside their school."
cbsnews.comManuel Oliver, father of Parkland shooting victim, addresses Texas elementary school shooting: "The families don't need your freaking hearts. They need their kids."
"My innocent son Joaquin was shot four times with an AR-15. And today, we saw an 18-year-old in Texas was able to carry a weapon and kill kids inside their school."
cbsnews.comFlorida massacre families to get millions for FBI's inaction
Federal officials have confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the families of most of those killed and wounded in a 2018 Florida high school massacre over the FBI’s failure to stop the gunman even though it had received information he intended to attack.
Justice Department Announces Civil Settlement in Cases Arising from 2018 School Shooting in Parkland, Florida
Today, the Department of Justice announced that it has settled the 40 civil cases arising out of the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The parties have been in litigation since late 2018, when the survivors of the shooting, and the families of 16 people killed, sued the government for damages. In October 2021, the shooter pleaded guilty to 17 counts of premeditated first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder. This was the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history. This case was handled by the Justice Department’s Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
justice.govManuel Oliver, father of Parkland shooting victim, climbed D.C. crane to call for federal action on gun violence
Oliver, whose 17-year-old son Joaquin was killed four years ago in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, dropped a banner with a message for President Joe Biden.
cbsnews.comPentagon: Afghan airport attack wasn't preventable
The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable. (Feb. 4)
news.yahoo.comBiden pleads for Congress to act on gun control as he marks 9th anniversary of Sandy Hook shooting
In a video message, the president expressed his sympathies to the families of the 2012 shooting and said it is “darn frustrating” that Congress has not yet acted on gun control measures.
washingtonpost.comFlorida school massacre families settle lawsuit against FBI
The families of most of those killed and wounded in the 2018 Florida high school massacre announced Monday they have settled their lawsuit against the federal government over the FBI's failure to stop the gunman even though it had received information he intended to attack. Attorneys for 16 of the 17 killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland said they have reached a confidential settlement with the government over the FBI's failure to investigate a tip it received about a month before the massacre. “It has been an honor to represent the Parkland families who, through their immeasurable grief, have devoted themselves to making the world a safer place," their lead attorney, Kristina Infante, said in a statement.
news.yahoo.comParkland sheriff gets job reviewing red light tickets
A former South Florida sheriff who was removed from office by the governor because of his agency's response to the Parkland school shooting that left 17 people dead has found a new job reviewing the footage of red light cameras. Former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel was hired this month by the Davie Police Department as a traffic infraction enforcement officer, the Sun Sentinel reported. The fulltime job involves Israel reviewing the city's five red light cameras and appearing in court if anyone challenges a ticket.
news.yahoo.comFather of Parkland shooting victim: Biden's action on guns "will help our students be safe in school"
President Joe Biden announced executive action on guns today at the White House, calling gun violence in America is an "epidemic." Tony Montalto, the president of Stand with Parkland, lost his daughter, Gina, in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He joins CBSN's Tanya Rivero to discuss the president's action.
cbsnews.comBiden calls on Congress to ban assault weapons and institute other gun restrictions
On the third anniversary of the Parkland school shooting, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass stricter gun laws, including banning assault weapons. "Today, as we mourn with the Parkland community, we mourn for all who have lost loved ones to gun violence," Mr. Biden said. Since then, many of the students and community members have become passionate crusaders for stricter gun laws. According to a statement sent to CNN in December, the group asked that a National Director of Gun Violence Prevention "reflect the understanding that gun violence is a public health crisis, and disproportionately affects our most vulnerable populations." Last week, gun control groups Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action said they met with members of the Biden administration.
cbsnews.comBiden calls on Congress to ban assault weapons and institute other gun restrictions
On the third anniversary of the Parkland school shooting, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass stricter gun laws, including banning assault weapons. "Today, as we mourn with the Parkland community, we mourn for all who have lost loved ones to gun violence," Mr. Biden said. Since then, many of the students and community members have become passionate crusaders for stricter gun laws. According to a statement sent to CNN in December, the group asked that a National Director of Gun Violence Prevention "reflect the understanding that gun violence is a public health crisis, and disproportionately affects our most vulnerable populations." Last week, gun control groups Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action said they met with members of the Biden administration.
cbsnews.comGov. DeSantis orders flags at half-staff Sunday to honor 17 lives lost in Parkland school shooting
Ron DeSantis ordered flags across the state be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Sunday to honor the 17 lives lost in the Parkland school shooting. Authorities said a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School opened fire on campus with an AR-15 rifle on Valentine’s Day in 2018. When the gunfire ended, 14 students and three staff members were dead, and 17 others were wounded. In his proclamation for a day of remembrance, DeSantis asked fellow Floridians to pause for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Sunday. The panic alert measure was dubbed “Alyssa’s Law,” in honor of 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, one of the students killed three years ago.
On Parkland anniversary, Biden calls for tougher gun laws
President Joe Biden used the the occasion to call on Congress to strengthen gun laws, including requiring background checks on all gun sales and banning assault weapons. The president used the occasion to call on Congress to strengthen gun laws, including requiring background checks on all gun sales and banning assault weapons. "For those of us who lost loved ones that day, it's pretty much like any other day. Even before the Parkland tragedy, there was already plenty of anguish in Florida over gun violence. “Today, as we mourn with the Parkland community, we mourn for all who have lost loved ones to gun violence,” he said.
On Parkland anniversary, Biden calls for tougher gun laws
President Joe Biden used the the occasion to call on Congress to strengthen gun laws, including requiring background checks on all gun sales and banning assault weapons. The president used the occasion to call on Congress to strengthen gun laws, including requiring background checks on all gun sales and banning assault weapons. "For those of us who lost loved ones that day, it's pretty much like any other day. Even before the Parkland tragedy, there was already plenty of anguish in Florida over gun violence. “Today, as we mourn with the Parkland community, we mourn for all who have lost loved ones to gun violence,” he said.
Father of victim reflects on three years since Parkland school shooting
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sunday marks three years since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. So every day is like Sunday for me.”On Thursday, Schachter helped launch the first statewide dashboard to reduce school violence — School Incident Report. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, along with Wisconsin’s Sen. Ron Johnson filed the Luke and Alex School Safety Act of 2021, an identical bill as was filed last legislative session. If passed, the bill would nationally systematize the bundle of school safety information compiled at schoolsafety.gov. “The Trump administration agreed with my idea, they created this school safety clearinghouse.”AdSen. Rubio said this centralized source for best school safety practices will provide schools some consistency nationwide.
3 years after Parkland, lawmakers mixed on Florida’s gun laws
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sunday will mark three years since the Parkland High School mass shooting that left 17 students and staff dead. Manuel Oliver’s son, Joaquin, was one of the 17 killed in the Valentine’s Day mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Oliver, who says her son was also her best friend, is still waiting for lawmakers to take action. AdAfter the Parkland shooting, the Legislature increased the age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21. The same legislation also allowed trained school staff to possess firearms on school grounds.
Parkland parent on Marjorie Taylor Greene and the reality of school shootings
Parkland parent on Marjorie Taylor Greene and the reality of school shootings Ahead of a House vote on Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, parents of the victims of the Parkland school shooting are calling for her removal from committee assignments. In a letter to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the group Stand with Parkland wrote it is concerned about her "reluctance to recognize the reality of mass shootings." Tony Montalto, president of Stand with Parkland and the father of a 14-year-old killed in the shooting, joins CBSN to discuss his reaction, and what the organization is working on to help keep schools safe.
cbsnews.comParkland parent on Marjorie Taylor Greene and the reality of school shootings
Parkland parent on Marjorie Taylor Greene and the reality of school shootings Ahead of a House vote on Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, parents of the victims of the Parkland school shooting are calling for her removal from committee assignments. In a letter to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the group Stand with Parkland wrote it is concerned about her "reluctance to recognize the reality of mass shootings." Tony Montalto, president of Stand with Parkland and the father of a 14-year-old killed in the shooting, joined CBSN to discuss his reaction, and what the organization is working on to help keep schools safe.
cbsnews.comFather of Parkland shooting victim backs federal school safety bill
The school safety commission was created after the deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in an effort to address several topics in order to prevent future school shootings. If passed, the bill would nationally systematize the bundle of school safety information compiled at schoolsafety.gov. “The Trump administration agreed with my idea, they created this school safety clearinghouse.”AdSen. Rubio said this centralized source for best school safety practices will provide schools some consistency nationwide. “So, I encourage every parent and every school to go to schoolsafety.gov, the federal school safety clearinghouse website, and take a look at it.”The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. She has agreed with people who claimed the Parkland shooting was a “false flag” operation, meaning it was fake, or staged.
School safety during pandemic subject of online meeting
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was formed after the 2018 mass shooting at the Parkland school, meets online Monday to discuss school-safety compliance amid the COVID-19 pandemic and review issues from this years legislative session. The meeting comes as a statewide grand jury impaneled after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County is seeking more time to finish its work. Ron DeSantis asked the Supreme Court to impanel the grand jury to investigate school-safety issues, a request that was granted by the court. The statewide grand jury began meeting in June 2019 for what was expected to be a 12-month period. The statewide grand jury has diligently investigated the issues identified by this honorable courts order (impaneling the grand jury), several of which have required evidence from every county in the state, Thursdays petition for more time said.
Parkland parents appeal mental health rulings
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Parents of victims in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have gone to the Florida Supreme Court in disputes about alleged negligence by a mental-health facility that provided services to accused shooter Nikolas Cruz. Andrew Pollack and Shara Kaplan, parents of slain student Meadow Pollack, and Royer Borges and Emely Delfin, parents of seriously injured student Anthony Borges, have filed notices that they are appealing rulings last month by the 4th District Court of Appeal that said Henderson Behavioral Health, Inc., cannot be held liable in the shooting, according to documents posted Tuesday on the Supreme Court website. But in the Pollack case, the appeals court said the theories of liability are undermined by Florida law establishing that a criminal attack on third parties by an outpatient mental health patient is not within the foreseeable zone of risk created by the mental health provider. Florida law does not recognize a duty of mental health providers to warn third parties that a patient may be dangerous.As is common, the notices of appeal do not detail arguments that attorneys for the parents will make at the Supreme Court. Meadow Pollack was one of 17 students and faculty members who were killed Feb. 14, 2018, at the Parkland school, while Anthony Borges was one of 17 others who were wounded.
Florida Supreme Court blocks assault weapon ban from ballot
A group called Ban Assault Weapons Now sponsored the proposed constitutional amendment, inspired by the mass shooting at a Parkland high school that left 17 people dead. While the ballot summary purports to exempt registered assault weapons lawfully possessed prior to the Initiatives effective date, the Initiative does not categorically exempt the assault weapon, only the current owners possession of that assault weapon. The ballot summary is therefore affirmatively misleading, the court wrote in its opinion. But since the petitions used the language the court says is invalid, the group cant simply tweak the ballot summary. Attorney General Ashley Moody opposed the ballot initiative, as did the National Rifle Association, which hired a legal team to fight it.
Gun safety bill stalls in Florida Legislature
It would also strengthen laws governing gun storage and introduce new requirements for private sales. “We need four Republican votes would be my guess in the Senate to pass a bill and it would shock me if we don’t have four Republican votes for common sense gun safety,” Lee said last month. And as session reached its midpoint, Senate President Bill Galvano signaled the measure still had many obstacles to overcome. “Anytime a bill’s sponsor is pessimistic about passage of a massive gun control bill it’s a good thing," former NRA President Marion Hammer said. We continue to watch, we continue to work and we continue to fight.”Even if the bill were to pass the Senate, convincing the House and the Governor would likely be a daunting task.
School shooting victim’s dad named to Florida school board
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The father of a student slain in Florida's 2018 high school massacre is being appointed to the state Board of Education. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that he has appointed Ryan Petty to the board that oversees education policy in the state. Petty’s 14-year-old daughter Alaina was one of 17 people killed in the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Petty ran for the Broward County school board in 2018, six months after the shooting, but lost to an incumbent. His appointment must be approved by the state Senate and is for a four-year term.
Senate removes Broward County sheriff from office after Parkland shooting
Ron DeSantis by removing embattled Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel from office. The full Senate vote --- in which three Democrats joined the Republican majority --- came two days after the Senate Rules Committee ignored Goodlette's recommendation and voted to back removing Israel from office. From 450 miles away, the governor substituted his judgment for yours and installed his own sheriff in Broward County," Israel said. "I view the action we are about to take not as a vote for Sheriff Israel or against Gov. To take away that office deprives the people of an important right," Kuehne said after the Senate vote.
Trial to determine if Broward County sheriff gets job back
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A historic trial at the Florida Capitol next week will decide whether the sheriff in charge during the Parkland shootings in South Florida gets his job back. The family of Meadow Pollack, one of 17 killed in the Parkland massacre, were making the rounds meeting with senators who will ultimately vote to re-instate or uphold the suspension of former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel. "They are pretty passionate about seeing Sheriff Israel removed from office, but I found them to be very respectful," Lee said. Many, if not all of the families affected by the shooting, will be represented in Tallahassee next week. He failed to follow up on a tip this kid was going to be a shooter.
Parkland shooter's death penalty trial set to begin in January
(CNN) - Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz's death penalty trial is set to begin in January 2020, according to a court order issued Thursday by Florida Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer. The Broward state attorney is seeking the death penalty. Pretrial motions will be heard on January 13, and jury selection is set to begin on January 27, the court order states. The question at trial is not about his guilt -- Cruz has confessed to the crime -- but about whether he receives the death penalty. His defense team has offered a guilty plea in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of parole, but only if prosecutors take the death penalty off the table.
Florida lawmakers propose bill to crack down on ammo sales
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Eighteen months after 17 people were killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, lawmakers are introducing a bill to crack down on the sale of gun ammunition. State Rep. Dan Daley and State Sen. Lauren Book said there's no oversight over the purchase of ammunition. "There's actual no check to make sure people don't have the ammunition," Daley said. There have 325 mass shootings in 2019, according to Gun Violence Archive. But it's more than likely that the ammunition was bought legally because of the lack of background checks on ammo purchases.
Dick's has destroyed $5 million worth of weapons, CEO says
Scott Olson/Getty Images(CNN) - Dick's Sporting Goods has destroyed $5 million of the chain's gun inventory, its CEO said. After finding out that Dick's had sold the Parkland shooter a shotgun, CEO Edward Stack decided last year the company would no longer sell firearm to anyone under 21. Dick's announced it would destroy its inventory of weapons, rather than allow them to be sold by another retailer. Since then, about $5 million of the chain's gun inventory has been turned into scrap metal, Stack said in an interview with CBS. Though the gun sold to the shooter was not the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting, Stack said he couldn't stand being part of the narrative of mass shootings.
Parkland activist calls new Florida gun law 'asinine'
(CNN) - Parkland activist Cameron Kasky says a new Florida law that allows some teachers to carry firearms on campus is "asinine." As of October 1, some Florida teachers can carry firearms on campus. The legislation was based on recommendations made in response to the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Last year, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission founded the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program. Guardians must pass psychological and drug screenings and complete at least 144 hours of training, according to the Florida Department of Education.
Some teachers in Florida can carry guns inside classrooms now
Copyright 2019 CNN(CNN) - As of Oct. 1, some Florida teachers can carry firearms on campus. The measure is part of a controversial bill Florida Gov. The bill authorizes school districts to implement at least one school-safety officer per public school. Some districts already arm teachers; others have banned itArming teachers was already legal in some school districts before the mass shooting in Parkland. The Florida bill entered effect on the second anniversary of the mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 58 people.
Legal question could decide Parkland compensation
A Broward County circuit judge in December ruled in favor of the school board, prompting attorneys for Parkland parents and victims to appeal. Stephen Rosenthal, a lawyer representing families of Parkland victims, told justices that it was too soon to rule in the Broward County case. But the justices appeared to struggle with how the Parkland victims' position complied with a "strict interpretation" of the statute. The school board is now fielding 33 legal complaints stemming from the shooting, Pettis said. State lawmakers need to create a special victims' compensation fund for the Parkland families, he said.
Parkland father appeals to Trump on gun debate: 'Stay out'
(CNN) - The father of a victim in last year's deadly mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, had an emotional message for President Donald Trump Thursday: "Stay out" of the discussion about how to prevent gun violence until "you're ready to actually be a serious participant in this conversation." I don't care about you. I don't care about you. I don't care about you, Mr. President, but I hate what you do. Keep your mouth just quiet unless you're ready to actually be a serious participant in this conversation.
State education officials seek more money for safety measures
The state agencys budget request, approved by the Florida Board of Education on Wednesday, also contains an additional $1.4 million to maintain school resource officers in each Florida public school. Under sweeping legislation passed shortly after the Feb. 14, 2018 shooting in Parkland, all public schools are required to have trained, armed security personnel onsite. But up until recently, many schools -- particularly charter schools -- have struggled to comply with that requirement. Corcoran acknowledged Wednesday that charter schools have struggled to have armed security certified by the state. The move to increase spending to maintain school safety officers comes days after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission blasted charter schools for not having long-term plans to have armed security on campus.
Lawmaker seeks to roll back gun restrictions
Hill proposed a similar bill for the 2019 legislative session (HB 6073), but it was not heard in committees. Red flag laws have drawn heavy attention nationwide after separate shootings last weekend that left 22 people dead in El Paso, Texas, and 10 people dead in Dayton, Ohio. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was among people urging U.S. Senate leaders to take up a red flag bill he introduced in 2018 after the Parkland shooting. On Monday, Florida Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, directed Senate Infrastructure and Security Chairman Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, to lead efforts to determine if any further action is needed on state gun laws. News Service of Florida
Parkland victim's parents in El Paso during shooting
EL PASO, Texas - The parents of a student killed in last year's mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, were near El Paso, Texas, on Saturday when a gunman carried out another massacre. Sunday would have been his 19th birthday, and the parents planned to unveil a mural in El Paso for the occasion, marking the 30th city with such a mural. "(Joaquin) was very concerned and upset with the treatment we were giving to immigrants when they came to this country, so El Paso was great to do that," Manuel Oliver said on Monday. But on Saturday, while they were across the US-Mexico border in Ciudad Juarez, they learned of the anti-immigrant shooting at an El Paso Walmart that left 20 people dead. "Those people that lost loved ones yesterday in Ohio, here in El Paso, need to become the voice of their loved ones."
Teen With Same Name as Alleged Parkland Shooter Nikolas Cruz Wants to Change It
Calls from the media flooded the home of Nikolas Marciel Cruz after a gunman opened fire at the school on Feb. 14, 2018, killing 17 and injuring many more. Nikolas Marciel Cruz lives in Sunrise, which neighbors Parkland, where Stoneman Douglas is located. It was the first of many instances where her son was confused for the teen allegedly responsible for the shooting, who authorities identified as Nikolas Jacob Cruz. Oh my god! the man exclaimed after Nikolas Marciel Cruz introduced himself, Moran said. And though Nikolas Marciel Cruz, who has high-functioning autism, plans to keep his first name, he wants a chance to start anew when he begins college, where he plans to study history, his mother said.
Parkland survivor slams Madonna's 'God Control' video
(CNN) - In a series of tweets, Parkland survivor and activist Emma Gonzlez has slammed Madonna's new music video, "God Control." The video is a statement by Madonna on gun control and anti-gun violence. "This is NOT the correct way to talk about gun violence, unlike how many fans have been exclaiming people who have been working in the GVP community know how to talk about gun violence, not most celebrities #GodControl." GVP stands for gun violence prevention. "As a survivor of gun violence, it was really hard to watch," Carter said.