Suspected shooter’s brother is out of jail

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Zachary Cruz, the brother of the teenager who allegedly killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month, was freed from jail Thursday afternoon as part of a plea deal reached in his trespassing case.

Cruz, 18, pleaded no contest in exchange for a six-month probation term accompanied by conditions that include staying off drugs or alcohol, staying at least a mile away from the Parkland high school he once attended, and staying away from firearms.

“Zachary Cruz is not someone anyone needs to fear,” said his lawyer, Joseph Kimok. “He’s someone who needs our compassion.”

Cruz was arrested March 19 at the school’s campus. A police report said he had been warned to stay away from the school. His lawyer disputed that Thursday.

“That part of it simply wasn’t true,” Kimok said. “That school was always a place where he felt safe and welcome.”

Cruz admitted to deputies he had been to Stoneman Douglas three times since his brother, Nikolas, allegedly went on his deadly shooting spree.

Nikolas Cruz is facing the death penalty if he’s convicted, but Zachary Cruz faced a maximum of 60 days in jail and a fine of $500.

Kimok read a statement expressing regret on behalf of his client.

“Zachary Cruz would like to apologize to anyone who felt scared or threatened by his presence at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School,” Kimok said.

Cruz watched his mother die last November and was astonished when his brother allegedly went on the shooting spree, he said.

Deputies last week searched the Lantana home where Zachary Cruz has been living since his mother’s death, searching for weapons that he might use to possibly hurt himself or others. But they found nothing, according to court documents.