Nikolas Cruz, a 23-year-old man of white ethnicity, has pleaded guilty to murdering 17 people in one of the deadliest high school shootings in Parkland.
Nikolas Cruz was only 19 years old when he launched a high school massacre at his former high school in Parkland, Florida.
On February 14, 2018, he opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School which killed 17 people and injured 17 others. Cruz fled the scene on foot but was arrested an hour later in nearby Coral Springs.
He was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder. As per nbcnews.com, he agreed to plead guilty to all 34 counts.
The news website also reported that he faces a possible sentence of life in prison or the death penalty with no parole for his murder counts.
Nikolas Cruz Ethnicity, Parents, And Nationality Explored
Nikolas Cruz was born on September 24, 1998, in Margate, Florida, and holds American nationality. He appears to be of white ethnicity but it is not yet confirmed.
He was adopted at birth by his adopted parents Lynda and Roger Cruz. His biological mother, Brenda Woodard lives in Hallandale Beach and has a lengthy criminal history.
She was convicted of battery, grand theft, and drug possession in the 90s. As per local10.com, she has not been charged since 2011.
His adoptive parents loved Cruz and had no legal troubles. Cruz’s adoptive father died when the boys were still young. He was 61 years old when he died on August 11, 2004.
His adoptive mother also passed away at age 68 on November 1, 2017. She died three months before the Parkland school shooting.
What Is Nikolas Cruz Motive For Parkland School Shooting: Why Did He Do It?
The motive behind Nikolas Cruz is not disclosed at the time of publication.
According to Wikipedia, Cruz had behavioral problems since middle school. His mother often called police officers at home to talk some sense into him.
He was transferred between schools six times in three years. He allegedly made threats against other students.
His classmates said he often talked about guns and weapons and joked about shooting establishments.