"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.
As Iran retaliates for an Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field, one analyst warns the war is "now hitting the plumbing of the global energy system."
Advocates said the Van Nuys building looked like an example of "clustering" — a red flag for hospice fraud.
Two former FBI agents who helped investigate President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results sued the federal government, alleging they were wrongfully terminated.
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
The body of missing University of Alabama student James Gracey, who disappeared on a trip to Barcelona, has been found, Spanish officials said Thursday.
Thursday's meeting with Tom Homan marked a key development as progress to date has appeared stagnant.
In an interview with "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there had already been damage done to Iran's nuclear sites.
"The morale is getting worse by the day because no one knows when this is gonna end," said Cameron Cochems, a lead TSA officer in Boise, Idaho.
Every 1-cent increase in gasoline prices reduces consumer spending by $1.5 billion annually, one economist says.
Every 1-cent increase in gasoline prices reduces consumer spending by $1.5 billion annually, one economist says.
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
In an interview with "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there had already been damage done to Iran's nuclear sites.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell used the phrase "we don't know" at least 14 times during his press conference. Investors are nervous.
Royer Perez-Jimenez was arrested by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in January, according to ICE.
Every 1-cent increase in gasoline prices reduces consumer spending by $1.5 billion annually, one economist says.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell used the phrase "we don't know" at least 14 times during his press conference. Investors are nervous.
Stanford economists estimate that the typical U.S. household will spend an additional $740 on gas this year because of the jump in global oil prices.
A barrel of Brent crude topped $111, while the U.S. benchmark also rose as the Iran war intensifies.
Swarmer is likely to be the first of many: a Ukrainian defense startup with an American face that leans on U.S. capital to scale production for both the Ukrainian and American militaries.
Thursday's meeting with Tom Homan marked a key development as progress to date has appeared stagnant.
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
In an interview with "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there had already been damage done to Iran's nuclear sites.
At a time when our nation is splintered in many areas of public life, the New Jersey Senator writes how virtue is a strategy to rekindle the belief that Americans' destiny is bound together.
Two former FBI agents who helped investigate President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results sued the federal government, alleging they were wrongfully terminated.
A judge blocked a set of changes to the childhood vaccine schedule recommended by allies of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, dealing a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul federal vaccine policy.
Patchwork state policies and limited federal oversight have led to a fragmented system for tracking organ donor status.
Spencer Laird was diagnosed with colon cancer at 26. At 30, he was told it had returned and spread to his lungs, with one tumor the size of a golf ball.
The Trump administration's Medicare boss reacts to CBS News investigation into California's hospice fraud problems.
Even people with six-figure incomes are making financial sacrifices to pay for medical care, a new study finds.
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
Two sources confirmed to CBS News that Saleh Mohammadi, a young member of Iran's national wrestling team, was among the three men executed in Iran.
Excavations at the site of the 1802 Mentor shipwreck uncovered a marble fragment that may have ties to the Parthenon in Ancient Greece, officials say.
The following is the full transcript of the interview with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi, a portion of which will air on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 22, 2026.
U.S. author Jessica Joelle Alexander says Americans should consider adopting some of Denmark's "great parenting practices."
Grammy winner Alessia Cara is debuting a new album 10 years into her music career. Cara joined CBS News with details on her latest collaborations.
Val Kilmer was originally set to star in "As Deep as the Grave" before he died last year, never shooting a scene of the movie. But Kilmer will still star in the film thanks to generative AI, which is artificial intelligence that can generate new content by analyzing existing content. Jo Ling Kent has more.
Spoiler alert! The latest contestant eliminated from "Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans" joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss his surprising elimination and if he has any regrets about how he played the game.
David Margolick's biography of Sid Caesar explores how the 1950s comic reinvented the art of comedy in the new medium of television.
Grammy-nominated singer and actor Demi Lovato speaks with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King about her healing journey and how she found joy in cooking after her recovery from anorexia and bulimia. Lovato says food used to bring her "discomfort and fear" but she has since learned to find "freedom with food." Her new cookbook is called "One Plate at a Time."
Val Kilmer was originally set to star in "As Deep as the Grave" before he died last year, never shooting a scene of the movie. But Kilmer will still star in the film thanks to generative AI, which is artificial intelligence that can generate new content by analyzing existing content. Jo Ling Kent has more.
More than 80% of adults say they go online at least several times per day and research indicates that even adults' fully-formed brains can suffer negative consequences from excessive screen time. Dr. Sue Varma breaks down risks, tips to reduce your screen time and why adults are spending more time on screens.
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.
NVIDIA's GTC conference brought big crowds to Silicon Valley this week, with hundreds of companies showcasing products powered by NVIDIA's chips. Tim Werth, tech editor at Mashable, joins CBS News to discuss.
A tech entrepreneur in Australia, Paul Conyngham, said he used artificial intelligence to design a cancer vaccine for his dog Rosie. He joins CBS News with Páll Thordarson, director of the UNSW RNA Institute, who worked with Conyngham on the technology.
The song is that of a humpback whale and was recorded by scientists in March 1949 in Bermuda, researchers said.
A new study in the journal Nature says most sea level rise research may have underestimated coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced significant changes to the agency's Artemis program, which aims to land on the moon in 2028.
Documents might help scientists shed light on unexplained phenomena and government secrets, experts said.
A large shark was caught on camera for the first time in Antarctica's waters, surprising researchers. "There's a general rule of thumb that you don't get sharks in Antarctica," one said.
The man who attacked a synagogue in Michigan last week sent a photo of himself with the AR-style rifle he had during the attack to a family member in Lebanon, according to a U.S. official.
Joseph Duggar, one of the stars of the reality show "19 Kids and Counting," has been arrested and is facing child sex abuse charges. He's accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl six years ago in Florida. Tom Hanson reports.
More details are emerging about the allegations of abuse against the late Cesar Chavez. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe has more.
Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales is one of the alleged ringleaders of the Ecuadorian criminal gang "Los Lobos" and one of the country's most-wanted fugitives.
Kouri Richins, Utah author and mother, was just found guilty for murder and attempted murder of her husband Eric Richins. The state accused her of killing him with a fentanyl-laced Moscow mule in 2022 after previously attempting to poison him via a sandwich on Valentine's Day. Monday evening the jury found her guilty on all counts including insurance fraud and forgery. In a special episode, "48 Hours" correspondent Natalie Morales speaks with Skye Lazaro, former defense attorney for Richins, about the significance of the outcome and the key moments in court that let up to the verdict. This episode was recorded on March 17.
After an overnight Thursday trip back out to the launch pad, NASA's Artemis II rocket will be readied for a historic flight to the moon.
A meteoroid was spotted streaking across the sky in 10 states. In some areas, there was also a loud boom, similar to an explosion. NASA says the meteor, which was traveling 45,000 mph in the sky, fragmented - causing the bright fireball and loud boom.
Some residents immediately feared the sound was an explosion, according to CBS affiliate WOIO, but weather service officials say it appears to have been a meteor.
Bill Nye the Science Guy sits down with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett to talk about his life and career.
NASA's huge Space Launch System rocket has been repaired and is ready for rollout back to the launch pad next week.
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.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat, pressed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on whether the U.S. and Israel's goals are aligned in the war against Iran. Gabbard acknowledged that President Trump and the Israeli government have different objectives.
Mohammed Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, a former soldier in the Afghan military who was evacuated to the U.S. in 2021, died in ICE custody on March 14. Thirteen people have died in ICE detention three months into 2026, following a two-decade high death tally reported last year. CBS News spoke to Paktiawal's brother and 12-year-old son, both of whom are demanding answers about his sudden death.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his nation on Thursday, giving an update on the state of the war with Iran. Netanyahu praised President Trump several times, thanking him for "leading this effort to safeguard our future."
GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York asked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about the resignation of Joe Kent as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center. Gabbard said she disagreed with what Kent said in his resignation letter.
Rep. Jim Himes questioned Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about her involvement with an FBI search of an election headquarters in Fulton County, Georgia, and whether she found any credible evidence of foreign interference in U.S. elections. Himes then asked FBI Director Kash Patel about investigations into noncitizens voting.