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By the numbers: The Parkland school shooter’s death penalty trial

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – As the death penalty trial of the Parkland school shooter wraps up, with both sides presenting closing arguments Tuesday, Local 10 News is taking a look at some of the important numbers in the case.

  • 17: The number of people murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 14, 2018, and the number of counts Nikolas Cruz pleaded guilty to in 2021.
  • 22: The number of jurors and alternates sworn in on June 29 for the penalty phase of the trial—the 12 person jury features seven men and five women, plus 10 alternates.
  • 27: The number of days of trial testimony, spanning July 18 through Oct. 6.
  • 6: The number of months of trial, starting with jury selection on April 4.
  • 100: The state called nearly this many witnesses during its 12-day case-in-chief, making its opening statements on July 18.
  • 26: The number of witnesses called by the defense in its 11-day case, after making its opening statements on Aug. 22.
  • 7: The number of witnesses the state called in its four-day rebuttal, which began on Sept. 27.
  • 24: The current age of Nikolas Cruz.
  • 19: The age of Nikolas Cruz during the shooting.
  • 18: The age Nikolas Cruz legally bought the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting in 2017. In the wake of the shooting, Florida lawmakers raised the purchase age for firearms to 21.

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About the Authors
Christina Vazquez headshot

Christina returned to Local 10 in 2019 as a reporter after covering Hurricane Dorian for the station. She is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and previously earned an Emmy Award while at WPLG for her investigative consumer protection segment "Call Christina."

Chris Gothner headshot

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

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