"Justice wasn't served": Parkland families outraged as shooter is spared death sentence
The jury foreman said the jurors were divided.
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The jury foreman said the jurors were divided.
Thomas Benjamin told CBS Miami three jurors voted against the death penalty for the gunman, who was convicted of killing 17 people in 2018.
"The monster's going to go to prison and in prison, I'll hope and pray he receives the kind of mercy from prisoners that he showed to my daughter and the 16 others," said Parkland father and activist Fred Guttenberg.
A Florida jury recommended that Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz serve life in prison without parole, sparing him a possible death sentence. CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorquez has reaction from the courtroom and CBS News legal contributor Rebecca Roiphe explains what led up to the jurors' decision.
The gunman killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
A Florida jury is deliberating to determine the fate of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz. He pleaded guilty last year to killing 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. Prosecutors are recommending that the 24-year-old receive the death penalty. CBS News national correspondent Manuel Bojorquez joined Errol Barnett and Meg Oliver to discuss the case.
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.
The motion, filed on Friday, alleged that the judge revealed longstanding animosity toward the defense that threatened the fairness of the trial.
Earlier this week, the judge accused defense attorneys of a lack of professionalism after they rested their case earlier than expected.
The defense abruptly rested its case on Wednesday in the sentencing trial for the Parkland school shooter, sparking a heated exchange with the judge over the attorneys' decision. Watch part of the hearing here.
The shooter's attorneys argued that showing the Nazi symbol violates his right to a fair trial because there is no evidence that the massacre was driven by bigotry.
The second day of defense testimony in the penalty trial for Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz included testimony from a former neighbor and a school administrator. CBS Miami has the details.
It was the second day of testimony for the defense in the trial.
"We must understand the person behind the crime," attorney Melisa McNeill told the jury.
Called a "quantitative electroencephalogram" or "qEEG," its backers say it provides useful support to such diagnoses as fetal alcohol syndrome, which Cruz's attorneys contend created his lifelong mental and emotional problems.
Twelve jurors and 10 alternates who will decide whether Cruz gets the death penalty or life in prison made a rare visit to the massacre scene.
The prosecution in the sentencing trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz rested its case hours after the jury visited the crime scene at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Thursday.
Jurors aren't allowed to converse with each other - when they retrace the path Cruz followed on Feb. 14, 2018.
The shooter managed to get a hold of the guard's Taser at one point during the fight.
Opening statements are underway in the sentencing trial of the Parkland school shooter. The jury will decide whether he receives the death penalty or life in prison without parole. CBS News' Adriana Diaz and Tony Dokoupil are joined by CBS News national correspondent Manuel Bojorquez with more about the trial and what to expect.
While delivering his opening statement, the lead prosecutor described the shooter as "cold, calculated, manipulative and deadly."
Among the items delivered to Cruz was a letter written by Joaquin Oliver asking for more gun regulation five years before he was killed in the Parkland shooting.
A father who lost his son in the 2018 Parkland school shooting interrupted President Biden at a White House event on gun violence, urging him to do more on gun reform. Manuel Oliver speaks with CBS News' Tanya Rivero on his message for the president and why he felt the need to speak out.
Speaker after speaker in Washington, D.C., called on senators to act or face being voted out of office.
Gas prices, inflation weigh on Americans. Many see lack of clarity on what's happening in Iran.
Two days of talks in Washington between Lebanon and Israel produced an extension of the current ceasefire by 45 days.
Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, are small, fully-functional secondary homes located on the same property as a main home, usually in the backyard, filling a vital need where housing has proved scant or expensive.
The search for the remains of the four Italian divers was suspended Saturday, after a Maldivian military diver died.
At least 80 deaths have been reported in a new Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda, authorities said.
Russian defenses shot down 81 drones headed for Moscow overnight, state agency Tass reported, citing Sobyanin.
Incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, who had occasionally broken with the Trump administration, lost his bid for a third term.
Approximately 40 million people across the West depend on the Colorado River for water every single day. But the region could soon face drastic measures as the river keeps shrinking.
Venezuela's government says it has deported a close ally of Nicolás Maduro to face judicial proceedings in the U.S. less than three years he was pardoned by President Joe Biden.
Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, are small, fully-functional secondary homes located on the same property as a main home, usually in the backyard, filling a vital need where housing has proved scant or expensive.
In New Mexico, a man is charged with forgery & larceny – and convicted of putting out a hit on his estranged wife. Twenty-six years earlier, a fire in Monaco kills a billionaire and his private nurse. At the center of that mystery was the very same man — with a different name.
Incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, who had occasionally broken with the Trump administration, lost his bid for a third term.
"Survivor" 48 and 50 contestant Joe Hunter believes his sister Joanna, whose death was ruled a suicide, was murdered. He and their mother are working to be Joanna's voice and advocate for others who have experienced domestic violence.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino joked that if someone does pay $2 million for a ticket to the World Cup final, "I will personally bring him a hot dog and a Coke."
Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, are small, fully-functional secondary homes located on the same property as a main home, usually in the backyard, filling a vital need where housing has proved scant or expensive.
Gas prices, inflation weigh on Americans. Many see lack of clarity on what's happening in Iran.
No injuries have been reported because of the issue, the Food and Drug Administration said.
President Trump's trip to China could bolster economic relations, but failed to deliver a breakthrough deal, some trade and energy experts said.
College grads outearn people without a degree within 15 years, even after paying for tuition, study finds.
The following is the transcript of the interview with former Defense Secretary Robert Gates that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 17, 2026.
The following is the transcript of the interview with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 17, 2026.
Gas prices, inflation weigh on Americans. Many see lack of clarity on what's happening in Iran.
Incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, who had occasionally broken with the Trump administration, lost his bid for a third term.
Police estimated that around 60,000 people attended the "Unite the Kingdom" march, making it one of the largest right-wing mobilizations seen in Britain in recent years.
Genomic analysis showed the virus found aboard the MV Hondius shows no evidence of new characteristics so far.
At least 80 deaths have been reported in a new Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda, authorities said.
Tommy Bell thought he was in good shape. But a series of heart attacks painted a more complicated picture.
A New York doctor who contracted and survived Ebola more than a decade ago says he is worried for healthcare workers who are at the center of treating the latest outbreak.
Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg, leader of the Food and Drug Administration division responsible for regulating prescription and over-the-counter drugs, is leaving her post, a senior FDA official confirmed.
The following is the transcript of the interview with former Defense Secretary Robert Gates that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 17, 2026.
The following is the transcript of the interview with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 17, 2026.
The search for the remains of the four Italian divers was suspended Saturday, after a Maldivian military diver died.
Russian defenses shot down 81 drones headed for Moscow overnight, state agency Tass reported, citing Sobyanin.
Iran and the U.S. cut diplomatic ties in 1980, and the players are expected to use their time in Turkey to complete the necessary procedures for obtaining visas.
Jon Favreau, creator of the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian," has now brought the father-son relationship of Pedro Pascal's bounty hunter and his charge "Baby Yoda" to the big screen.
In this web exclusive, Jon Favreau, the creator of the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian," and director of the new film "The Mandalorian and Grogu," talks with correspondent Tracy Smith about the myth of "Star Wars," the influences on the story (including Japanese samurai films), and expanding the universe for a new audience. He also talks about working with Robert Downey Jr. on his film "Iron Man," and about cooking, the subject of his 2014 movie, "Chef."
Director Jon Favreau, creator of the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian," has now brought Pedro Pascal's bounty hunter and his charge "Baby Yoda" to the big screen. He talks with correspondent Tracy Smith about the handmade feel of the "Star Wars" universe, and how father-son relationships have always been at the heart of the stories set in a galaxy far, far away. He also discusses bringing his improv roots to directing Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man."
The French fashion house is today the world's largest luxury brand. "Sunday Morning" talks with artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière, who is shaping the future of Louis Vuitton by designing the unexpected.
Lily Hevesh may be the world's greatest domino artist. She talked with correspondent David Pogue about the patience and perseverance required to set up thousands of dominoes in intricate structures and patterns – and then knock them all down.
For thousands of years, civilizations around the world have built houses out of earth – whether it be mud brick, wattle and dab or rammed earth. But adobe (the practice of making mudbricks) has now become today's "it" building material, from museums around the world designed using adobe, to do-it-yourselfers constructing homes from the very dirt beneath their feet. Correspondent Conor Knighton looks at the history of adobe, and how ancient adobe materials are being merged with 3-D printing techniques.
Atlanta residents say they're waking up to traffic jams of self-driving Waymo vehicles confused by neighborhood signage.
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.
Atlanta residents woke up to Waymo traffic jams on Friday. The driverless cars took over a quiet cul-de-sac. Skyler Henry has more details.
Oklahoma has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, making it the latest state to take legal action against the popular gaming platform over child safety concerns.
The long-necked herbivore is the largest ever found in Southeast Asia, researchers said.
The last time an El Niño pattern occurred was in 2023, when the Eastern Pacific hurricane season produced 20 tropical systems.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft will slingshot past Mars on Friday, on its way toward a rare metal-rich asteroid.
Greater protections for endangered emperor penguins and how to manage growing tourism are topping the agenda at talks on Antarctica in Japan.
The Pentagon released UFO documents on Friday, with President Trump telling the public to "have fun" deciding for itself what is going on. Carter Evans reports.
In New Mexico, a man is charged with forgery & larceny – and convicted of putting out a hit on his estranged wife. Twenty-six years earlier, a fire in Monaco kills a billionaire and his private nurse. At the center of that mystery was the very same man — with a different name.
"Survivor" 48 and 50 contestant Joe Hunter believes his sister Joanna, whose death was ruled a suicide, was murdered. He and their mother are working to be Joanna's voice and advocate for others who have experienced domestic violence.
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national, is facing federal charges for his alleged terror plots targeting Jewish institutions around the U.S.
A terror plot targeting Jewish institutions in New York, California and Arizona has been foiled, and a man linked to the alleged scheme is under arrest on Friday. Prosecutors say the Iraqi suspect is tied to other global attacks and claim he wanted payback for the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran. Tom Hanson reports.
An Iraqi national was arrested and charged with planning to carry out several terror attacks in the U.S., including at a New York City synagogue and other prominent Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona. CBS News' Anna Schecter reports.
The International Space Station-bound SpaceX Cargo Dragon is loaded with 6,500 pounds of needed equipment, research gear and crew supplies.
Researchers expected to find "a gradual increase in artificial light at night," but instead saw "much more nuanced patterns," NASA said.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft will slingshot past Mars on Friday, on its way toward a rare metal-rich asteroid.
NASA's Apollo 17 crew reported seeing three mysterious dots and sparks that resembled fireworks, according to new files released by the Pentagon.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement that the documents "have long fueled justified speculation — and it's time the American people see it for themselves."
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
In Finland, bold graphics have become the trademark of Marimekko, the company whose fabrics, housewares and fashions have been adding vibrant colors and design to the world for 75 years. Correspondent Seth Doane reports.
In this web exclusive, Jon Favreau, the creator of the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian," and director of the new film "The Mandalorian and Grogu," talks with correspondent Tracy Smith about the myth of "Star Wars," the influences on the story (including Japanese samurai films), and expanding the universe for a new audience. He also talks about working with Robert Downey Jr. on his film "Iron Man," and about cooking, the subject of his 2014 movie, "Chef."
Director Jon Favreau, creator of the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian," has now brought Pedro Pascal's bounty hunter and his charge "Baby Yoda" to the big screen. He talks with correspondent Tracy Smith about the handmade feel of the "Star Wars" universe, and how father-son relationships have always been at the heart of the stories set in a galaxy far, far away. He also discusses bringing his improv roots to directing Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man."
For thousands of years, civilizations around the world have built houses out of earth – whether it be mud brick, wattle and dab or rammed earth. But adobe (the practice of making mudbricks) has now become today's "it" building material, from museums around the world designed using adobe, to do-it-yourselfers constructing homes from the very dirt beneath their feet. Correspondent Conor Knighton looks at the history of adobe, and how ancient adobe materials are being merged with 3-D printing techniques.
The twisty, crunchy, doughy treat is a tradition in Philadelphia, and the Center City Soft Pretzel Company churns out tens of thousands of pretzels a week. Correspondent Susan Spencer checks out their salty allure.