FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Thursday marks Day 6 in the trial of former Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputy Scot Peterson, who is accused of taking cover as the Parkland school shooter killed six people and injured four others on the third floor of the 1200 Building.
Jurors Thursday heard from Deputy training course coordinator and BSO Lt. Col. Sam Samaroo, who detailed years of training that Peterson received.
“Use your senses to get a better perspective of the event, move with speed, and be decisive,” Samaroo explained. “You try to replicate it so when that day comes, you respond.”
Prosecutors allege that as the Parkland shooter was hunting school hallways for victims, Peterson should have been hunting for him.
“Again, time is of the essence. If you were to wait as our predecessors did in Columbine, there is going to be a lot more lives being lost,” Samaroo said.
“Were the defendant’s actions that day consistent with his training?” one prosecutor asked.
“No, it was not,” Samaroo said.
“In any of the training that you reviewed, approved, been part of or taught, were you ever trained to stay during an active shooting situation in the same spot for 48 minutes?” the prosecutor asked.
“No, sir,” Samaroo responded.
3:30 p.m. report:
“You have listened to gunfire for four minutes and 15 seconds, and you still think it is anywhere in this area, correct sir?” defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh asked Samaroo.
“Correct, sir,” Samaroo responded.
“What are you trained to do sir?” Eiglarsh asked.
“Start seeking out where the gunfire is coming from,” Samaroo said.
Eiglarsh, on cross-examination, highlighted how large the campus is.
“Have you ever had a training scenario like that?” Eiglarsh asked.
“My answer would be no because (it’s) not feasible,” Samaroo said.
The defense maintains that Peterson didn’t know if there was more than one shooter or precisely where the shots were coming from.
“So if kids are running out of the 700 building, for example, and running back in, should you run over to the 700 building?” Eiglarsh asked.
“Ask questions,” Samaroo said, adding that it was said on the radio that the shooting was believed to be at or beside the 1200 Building.
Due to scheduling considerations, jurors also permitted to hear from two defense witnesses, including BSO Deputy Michael Kratz.
“He was very emotional, teary-eyed,” Kratz said of Peterson.
“Did anyone say shots were being fired from inside the 1200 building?” Eiglarsh asked.
“One of the male officers yelled over to me ‘did you hear that’ and said ‘what did you hear that from,’ Coral Springs dispatch, that was my a-ha moment that they are getting information we are not getting on our radio,” Kratz said.
Peterson, 60, is not charged in connection with those killed or injured on the first floor of the building as he did not reach the building until the gunman reached the third floor. No injuries or deaths occurred on the second floor.
Peterson is charged with seven counts of felony child neglect for four underage students killed and three wounded on the third floor.
Peterson arrived at the building with his gun drawn 73 seconds before Cruz reached that floor, but instead of entering, he backed away as gunfire sounded. He has said he didn’t know where the shots were coming from.
Peterson is also charged with three counts of misdemeanor culpable negligence for the adults shot on the third floor, including a teacher and an adult student who died. He also faces a perjury charge for allegedly lying to investigators.
Peterson could be sentenced to nearly a century in prison if convicted on the child neglect counts and lose his $104,000 annual pension.