Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz’s trial delayed as Hurricane Ian targets Florida

Hurricane Ian has forced a delay in the sentencing trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz.

The Broward County Courthouse — where the legal proceedings are unfolding — will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to the potentially disastrous Hurricane Ian, according to its website. The massive Category 4 storm has already unleashed torrential rains and severe winds across Florida, where residents are hunkering down before the storm slams into the coast.

It’s expected to make landfall on the Sunshine State some time Wednesday.

The sentencing trial was originally scheduled to continue through the end of the week with a half-day scheduled for Friday.

“Even if the courthouse is open [on Friday], the consensus is to finish the doctor’s testimony on Monday,” said Judge Elizabeth Scherer, per CNN.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz is shown at the defense table after the defense team announced their intention to rest their case during the penalty phase of the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse September 14, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Amy Beth Bennett/)

Cruz was 19 years old when he opened fire in the halls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, fatally striking 14 students and another three faculty members. He pleaded guilty last October to 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in connection with the massacre at his alma mater.

Because he has already confessed, jurors are only tasked with determining whether Cruz will be executed or spend the rest of his life behind bars. Should they select the death penalty, their decision must be unanimous.

Cruz’s defense attorneys, who have been fighting to save their client’s life, abruptly ended their case last month. They’ve argued he meets the criteria for anti-social personality disorder as well as borderline personality disorder.