Nikolas Cruz's Parkland shooting case enters penalty phase today. Find out what may happen

The painfully long wait is over, and the trial is set to begin in the Parkland, Florida soon in school shooter Nikolas Cruz's case. Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and attempted murder in October. Cruz is accused of killing of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day in 2018.

The case had captured spotlight across the nation, and the victims' families and survivors urged officials to do something about it to curb the mass shootings. Nikolas has already pleaded guilty, and the jury will decide what his punishment will be and not whether he is guilty or innocent.

The prosecutors are pushing for the death penalty while Cruz faces life in prison at the least. The jurors must recommend the death sentence unanimously if it comes into effect. However, it will ultimately be the judge's decision to decide whether Nikolas Cruz will be sentenced to death or life in prison.


Cruz was expelled from the same school before barging into the premises and carrying a rifle bag. According to the prosecutors, the backpack contained a tactical vest, firearm magazines and an AR-15-style rifle. The prosecutor suggests that the three-storey building witnessed open firing at teachers and students in classrooms and hallways as Nikolas Cruz went onto each floor.

Fourteen students were killed, including Peter Wang, 14; Alyssa Alhadeff, 14; Carmen Schentrup, 16; Alaina Petty, 14; Luke Hoyer, 15; Meadow Pollack, 18; Alex Schachter, 14; Helena Ramsay, 17; Joaquin Oliver, 17; Gina Montalto, 14; Cara Loughran, 14; Jaime Guttenberg, 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17; and Martin Duque Anguiano, 14.

Aaron Feis, 37 (football coach); Scott Beigel, 35 (Geography teacher) and Chris Hixon, 49 (wrestling coach), also died while saving the kids. It has been four years, and the families of the victims are still struggling to get justice.