Calay News
A jury in Florida has acquitted a police officer accused of failing to intervene to stop the massacre at a school in Parkland, north of Miami. Scot Peterson, 60, was the officer in charge of protecting Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, when Nikolas Cruz, a former student, opened fire, killing 14 students and three adults.
After four days of deliberations, the jury found the officer not guilty of multiple charges, including negligence and perjury, brought by the prosecution. The prosecution contended that Peterson, a police officer with more than 30 years of experience, failed to perform his duty during an active shooting.
When gunfire was heard near the building where the massacre occurred, the officer walked away to seek cover and call for backup instead of confronting Cruz, as is expected of police officers in such situations. Peterson always argued that he did not enter the scene of the shooting because he did not know the location of the shooter. When he finally arrived at the building, Cruz had already killed 13 people and wounded 14 others.
After learning of the verdict, Peterson broke down in tears and told the media that he had his life back as he left the courtroom. His lawyer, Mark Eiglarsh, said the victory was not only for his client but also for all law enforcement officers.
Peterson’s case generated a great deal of interest in the United States, as it may have set a precedent.According to the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), police officers have never before been charged for their inaction during a school shooting or violent act. However, Manuel Oliver, whose 17-year-old son Joaquin was killed in Parkland, expressed anger at Peterson and Eiglarsh’s reactions after learning of the verdict. Oliver stated that Peterson “clearly made a mistake and must be held accountable.” The Parkland shooting, one of the worst in US school history, shocked the country and reignited the gun control debate. Cruz had legally purchased the semi-automatic rifle he used in Parkland despite having mental health issues, and he was sentenced to life in prison last year.
