The Parkland High School shooter admitted Wednesday guilt in the killing of 17 people, mainly minor students, back in 2018.
Judge Elizabeth Scherer asked how the suspect wanted to plea to murdering 17 people and injuring 17 others and Nicholas Cruz replied: “Guilty.”
As the victims’ parents fought back tears, Cruz added: “I am very sorry for what I did and I have to live with it every day…it brings me nightmares and I can’t live with myself sometimes.”
Admitting that victims should be the ones to decide his fate, Cruz left the courtroom. Jury selection for the penalty phase in his trial will start on Jan. 4.
Cruz was 19 when he stormed his former school Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018, gunning down 14 students and three staff members and injuring 17 others.
