Florida

Accused Parkland school shooter to appear in court

Nikolas Cruz at the Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 11, 2018, during a hearing to determine if he should continue to have a lawyer at taxpayer expense. (Taimy Alvarez/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - The teenager accused of fatally shooting 17 at a Florida high school is scheduled to be in court.

A status hearing on the murder and other charges facing 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz is scheduled for Friday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale.

Read: Families of 2 students killed in Parkland sue gun maker

No trial date has been set for Cruz, who could get the death penalty if convicted. His attorneys have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence.

Cruz is charged with killing 14 students and three staff members and wounding 17 on Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Read: Brother of Stoneman Douglas school shooter arrested

Prosecutors say the former Stoneman Douglas student used an AR-15 to kill people on the first and third floors of the freshman building and then fled. He was arrested about an hour later.

Associated Press

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