Life sentence for Parkland school shooter could bring changes to death penalty in Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — There is new scrutiny over the proposed sentence for Nikolas Cruz.

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The jury recommended life in prison for the Parkland school shooter after he confessed to killing 17 people back in 2018.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is now calling that recommendation into question.

Read: ‘I couldn’t find anyone to kill’: Parkland school shooter says at penalty trial

The governor said if it weren’t for a new law, Cruz would be headed for death row.

During the sentencing of Cruz, the jurors couldn’t unanimously decide on death, so he will be sentenced to life in prison.

Parents of Parkland victims are asking the state to make some changes to its death penalty law.

Read: Parkland shooter prosecutors call for probe of juror threat

The parents’ demands are supported by DeSantis.

Until 2016, a simple majority vote of 7 to 5 was enough to sentence someone to death.

Now, a vote of anything less than 12 to 0 means life in prison without parole.

Read: ‘They will never be forgotten’: Central Florida remembers Parkland shooting 4 years later

Cruz is expected to be formally sentenced on Nov. 1.

Under Florida law, the judge has to stick with the jury’s recommendation.

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