The jury’s choice of school shooter Nicholas Cruz turned into a melee in a Florida courtroom on Tuesday when a potential juror “cursed” Cruz, prompting lawmakers to crowd in and defend the defendant.
A jury of 70 people sued in Fort Lauderdale’s courtroom when District Judge Elizabeth Scherer said the first person to enter began making potential threats to Cruz, who admitted to killing 17 people at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. Parkland.
As the bailiffs tried to remove the man, he shook his head and said “this is awful” as he passed reporters in the courtroom.
Other potential jurors were then “excited” and made unheard of comments, according to Scherer. The man who spoke to Cruz then began to look over his shoulder at the defendant, causing lawmakers to fear that he would run to the 23-year-old and be followed by others.
“The sheriff’s office is monitoring all this and has decided that it must protect Mr Cruz,” Scherer said of half a dozen armed lawmakers in the courtroom.
Nicholas Cruz spoke with Assistant Attorney General Naval Bashimam during a jury pre-selection at the Broward County Court in Fort Lauderdale on April 26, 2022. AP
“One incites and then there are many followers,” said Broward Sheriff’s Captain Osvaldo Tianga, the court’s security chief.
The alleged instigator told lawmakers he did not try to cause trouble, but became emotional when he saw Cruz, officials said.
A 12-member jury of eight deputies is being chosen to decide whether Cruz should be executed or sentenced to life in prison, and potential jurors did not know in advance that they were thought to be considering the fate of the notorious killer.
A 12-member jury of eight deputies is elected to decide whether Nicholas Cruz will be executed or sentenced to life in prison.AP
More than 1,800 potential jurors have passed through the courtroom since the selection began earlier this month. In an earlier case, 60 people had to be fired after many became emotional, potentially affecting others. About a dozen others were quietly removed as they began to cry.
Scherer dismissed the entire panel after Tuesday’s incident, saying many had become “militant” and “picky” when they were taken out of the courtroom.
The jury’s selection was due to resume on Wednesday.
With AP wires
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