Parkland school shooter spared the death sentence by Florida jury
The gunman killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
Watch CBS News
The gunman killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
The jury, which will be sequestered starting Wednesday, will decide if the gunman will get a death sentence or life behind bars.
The jury will likely decide his fate this week. For the 24-year-old to get a death sentence, the jury must be unanimous on at least one victim.
Prosecutors in the penalty trial of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz are about to begin their rebuttal case.
Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer called the decision without warning to her or the prosecution "the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try a case."
This week on "Face the Nation," CBS News Chief Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes guest hosts the broadcast with interviews with Representative Trey Gowdy, Senator Chris Coons, Senator Tim Scott, and Former Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta. Plus, a panel of retiring Republicans explain why they have decided to leave Congress.
A grieving father erupted in anger as he told jurors about the daughter school shooter Nikolas Cruz murdered along with 16 others four years ago.
Jurors in the penalty trial of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz have now seen the AR-15 rifle he used to murder 17 people.
Eyewitnesses to the killings of 17 people by Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz are giving heart-wrenching testimony at his penalty trial.
The sentencing trial for the Parkland school shooter has entered Day 2. CBS News' Elaine Quijano and Tanya Rivero speak with attorney David Weinstein, partner at Jones Walker law firm, to discuss the case as jurors consider whether to the hand Nikolas Cruz the death penalty.
The jury privately watched footage of the mass shooting, which was taken from security cameras at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
While delivering his opening statement, the lead prosecutor described the shooter as "cold, calculated, manipulative and deadly."
Thousands of people are expected to attend "March For Our Lives" rallies across the nation Saturday demanding stricter gun laws. Zoe Touray, a member of "March For Our Lives," and a mass school shooting survivor, joins CBS News' Elaine Quijano to discuss the protests.
Several right-wing personalities have been perpetuating false and disturbing conspiracy theories about the Uvalde gunman on social media. CBS News tech and politics reporter Musadiq Bidar joins CBS News' Carter Evans to discuss just how dangerous this type of disinformation can be.
Linda Beigel Schulman's son was a teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He was killed trying to protect his students during that mass shooting in 2018. Schulman joins CBS News' Lana Zak to discuss the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
David Hogg, a co-founder of March for our Lives, became an activist for stronger gun laws after surviving the 2018 shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. "It's not easy, but the reality is Americans have to stand up and do the jobs of our politicians," he told CBS News after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. "Focus on what we can agree on. That's why I think this time can be different."
CBS News' Mola Lenghi sits down with David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. They discuss how he's coping after the massacre, and why he remains optimistic that future tragedies can be prevented.
Tony Montalto, whose daughter Gina was killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, says there are public safety measures that people on both sides of the aisle can agree on. He joined CBS News' Lana Zak to talk about some of the ways to prevent tragedies like the latest school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
In 2018, Manuel Oliver's son Joaquin was shot and killed in at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He joined CBS News' Lana Zak with his reaction to today's deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvaldi, Texas: "We knew it was going to happen. We just don't know where," he said. "I just don't understand how come a whole society doesn't wake up."
Nikolas Cruz pleaded guilty but a jury must still decide if he receives the death penalty.
Over 40 civil cases were filed against the Department of Justice following the 2018 shooting.
Seventeen people were killed four years ago Monday in the devastating shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and another 17 were injured. Tony Montalto, president of "Stand with Parkland," joins "CBS News Mornings" to detail ongoing advocacy efforts and honor the memory of his daughter Gina.
Four years after his son Joaquin was killed in the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Manuel Oliver climbed a crane near the White House to pressure President Joe Biden to act on gun violence. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.
Educational experts have reported 31 school shootings in the United States this year. University of Virginia professor of education Dewey Cornell joins CBSN to discuss more.
Massive nor'easter turns deadly, affects more than 50M people; How student journalists are telling their own story after Parkland shooting.
A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane was spotted at a Moscow airport, along with a U.S. diplomatic motorcade, according to public reports.
The charges against Major Jason Watson are believed to be the first time in U.S. military history that a major has been charged under Article 88.
Iran's economy minister says the country has been preparing for the sanctions U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as the "greatest financial offensive" ever.
Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, is facing off against Rep. Ralph Norman for the GOP nomination.
President Trump said the U.S. is considering changing the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" amid an escalating trade fight with Canada.
Lindsay Clancy's murder trial resumes Tuesday in Massachusetts with more testimony from a forensic psychologist hired by the prosecution.
A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's effort to toss out her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges and 20-year prison sentence.
That's a much higher rate than is seen in the general population. CTE is a brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head.
The suspect in the incident later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, law enforcement said.
The new overseas routes represent the largest expansion in the airline's history, United said.
A plant in Southaven, Mississippi, that powers Elon Musk's SpaceXAI data centers in the area has sparked backlash from residents concerned about noise and air pollution.
The charges against Major Jason Watson are believed to be the first time in U.S. military history that a major has been charged under Article 88.
A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane was spotted at a Moscow airport, along with a U.S. diplomatic motorcade, according to public reports.
A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's effort to toss out her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges and 20-year prison sentence.
The new overseas routes represent the largest expansion in the airline's history, United said.
The ad for a new driver had sparked an online backlash, with viewers criticizing the spot for trivializing violence against women.
Although some Canadian goods will get more expensive in the U.S., trade experts don't expect a broader inflation spike.
Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.
Federal regulators alleged that a $100 million deal between Redfin and Zillow stifled competition for apartment listings.
The charges against Major Jason Watson are believed to be the first time in U.S. military history that a major has been charged under Article 88.
A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane was spotted at a Moscow airport, along with a U.S. diplomatic motorcade, according to public reports.
A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's effort to toss out her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges and 20-year prison sentence.
President Trump said the U.S. is considering changing the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" amid an escalating trade fight with Canada.
Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, is facing off against Rep. Ralph Norman for the GOP nomination.
That's a much higher rate than is seen in the general population. CTE is a brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head.
The agreements, covering issues like drug pricing, reducing the use of synthetic food dyes, and cutting back on insurance prior authorization rules, were announced with fanfare and touted as victories.
Lillian Smart, 8, has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family said.
Researchers and disability rights advocates warn that the dismantling of the Education Department and its erosions of civil rights oversight risk widening the disparities autistic children face.
This year, ER visits for tick bites have increased dramatically, corresponding with a new threat: a rise in Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), where one bite from a lone star tick can make you violently allergic to red meat. How can you best avoid tick bites?
A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane was spotted at a Moscow airport, along with a U.S. diplomatic motorcade, according to public reports.
Protesters and politicians enraged by the rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl in Nepal are demanding the country institute the death penalty.
The ship was among four vessels detained in a surveillance crackdown by 11 Pacific island nations, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Winds are estimated to have reached 73 mph.
A federal judge has postponed a trial in the U.S. for a Libyan man charged in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, citing the discovery of new evidence.
Levi Zhang and his parents share some recipes from their new cookbook and talk about how their viral videos started.
Bunny Levine worked as a school librarian for 25 years before pursuing her passion for acting and performing.
Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is author of the New York Times bestsellers "Braiding Sweetgrass" and "The Serviceberry" – books that advocate for living and working in collaboration with the Earth. She talks with correspondent Martha Teichner about the importance of respecting both Western scientific knowledge and Indigenous knowledge, planting trees, and sharing the gifts of nature.
In his recent memoir, "Heart Life Music," Kenny Chesney describes his life's journey, from Knoxville, Tenn., to No Shoes Nation and beyond. Chesney sits down with Lee Cowan in the Florida Keys, where the country superstar is just another laid-back local, to talk about family, touring, and how he recovered from a 2009 concert which he describes as "hitting a wall." [Originally broadcast Oct. 26, 2025.]
Opera great Giuseppe Verdi, one of history's most successful composers, used his fortune to create a retirement home for professional musicians "not favored by fortune." Residents of Casa Verdi in Milan not only share their lifetimes of artistry, they also provide master classes to young musicians. Chris Livesay reports.
A plant in Southaven, Mississippi, that powers Elon Musk's SpaceXAI data centers in the area has sparked backlash from residents concerned about noise and air pollution.
In Southaven, Mississippi, some residents are pushing back on SpaceXAI's expanding footprint in the region.
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
China's World Humanoid Robot Games is a technological showcase, but also a possible glimpse into the future of robotics. Anna Coren reports.
The World Humanoid Robot Games are underway in Beijing, China, in a stadium repurposed from the 2022 Winter Olympics. Many of the machines on display can now outrun and out-jump even the best real-life Olympians. Anna Coren has the story.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park told visitors Tuesday that invasive Joro spiders "may be hanging in a web near you."
July was the hottest month ever in the Lower 48 States – another escalation of our world into a hotter, more dangerous planet, where extreme weather events – such as heat waves, wildfires and hurricanes – will become more common and more extreme.
July was the hottest month ever in the Lower 48 States, breaking a record last set during the Dust Bowl – just another step in the escalation of our world into a hotter, more dangerous planet. Correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti talks with climate journalist Jeff Goodell and atmospheric scientist Maria Molina about how changes in Earth's climate are increasing the likelihood that extreme weather events – such as heat waves, wildfires and hurricanes – will become more common and more extreme.
A total solar eclipse was visible in parts of Europe for the first time since 1912. Rob Marciano reports.
A total solar eclipse turned day into night across a slice of Europe and North America on Wednesday, and put millions in unique contact with the heavens above. Meteorologist Rob Marciano reports from Spain.
San Francisco 49ers owner and CEO Jed York was arrested in Ohio over the weekend and pleaded no contest to amended charges originally stemming from a prostitution arrest. Now, he could face punishment from the NFL. Carter Evans reports.
The prosecution's final rebuttal witness is expected Tuesday in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother who admitted to killing her children in a state of postpartum psychosis. Closing arguments are expected Wednesday.
The suspect in the incident later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, law enforcement said.
Protesters and politicians enraged by the rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl in Nepal are demanding the country institute the death penalty.
The defense in the Lindsay Clancy trial called for a mistrial after a witness brought up Lindsay Clancy's Catholic faith. The judge did not declare a mistrial, but he reprimanded prosecutors and told the jury to ignore that testimony. Trial lawyer Mark Eiglarsh explains more.
President Trump plans to award the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission in a ceremony Aug. 28.
The mission to save NASA's sinking space telescope has been called off, dooming the telescope to a fiery reentry later this year.
A NASA spacecraft circling the moon is providing the sharpest views yet of the crater carved by a crashing SpaceX rocket.
The newly discovered object looks like a star the size of our solar system, but produces 100 billion times more energy than any star.
The only total solar eclipse of 2026 crossed the Northern Hemisphere Wednesday, with a path of totality across parts of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain. See photos and video from the best viewing locations.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Sylvie Cachay was found dead in an overflowing bathtub at the exclusive Soho House in New York City on Dec. 9, 2010. A water leak at the hotel gave away a timeline that may have revealed her killer.
Summer is the time to enjoy live music, indoors and out. Scroll through our gallery of some of 2026's leading musical acts, featuring images by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton.
The Obama Presidential Center, museum and library opens in Chicago with a star-studded grand opening ceremony and public watch party on Midway Plaisance.
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
The Supreme Court will allow portions of President Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting to proceed for now. CBS News' legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more information.
In Southaven, Mississippi, some residents are pushing back on SpaceXAI's expanding footprint in the region.
On this edition of CBS Deals, we show you items that will help improve your everyday lifestyle. Visit cbsdeals.com to take advantage of these exclusive deals today. CBS earns commissions on purchases made through cbsdeals.com.
Darline Graham is facing off against Ralph Norman in today's Republican Senate runoff in a South Carolina special election. Meanwhile, Michigan's Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from progressive influencer Hasan Piker over his comments on Israel and Jewish Americans. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe reports.
China's World Humanoid Robot Games is a technological showcase, but also a possible glimpse into the future of robotics. Anna Coren reports.