Parkland, Florida, school shooter’s jury selection begins
Accused Parkland high school shooter Nikolas Cruz.[Broward County Sheriff's Office / ZUMA Press]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jury selection in the deadliest U.S. mass shooting ever to go to trial has begun. A judge, prosecutors and defense attorneys began screening the first candidates on Monday for the 12-member panel that will decide if Nikolas Cruz is executed or gets life in prison.
Cruz has already pleaded guilty to the 2018 murders of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Court officials say 1,500 candidates or more could be screened over the next several weeks.
To be selected, candidates must say they can judge Cruz fairly and vote for the death penalty if the evidence requires it.