Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
A DOWNCAST MOOD
School shooter sits with head bowed throughout court hearing Defense team files sealed motion regarding access to Cruz Judge grants DCF’s request to release its investigation records
Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz sat with his head bowed, barely acknowledging his attorneys, during a brief hearing Monday in a heavily guarded Fort Lauderdale courtroom.
Cruz, 19, appeared in court for the second time since he shot 17 people to death at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Wednesday.
Prior to the judge’s entrance, Cruz sat with his lawyers on either side. He appeared to sign a document, as one of his lawyers blocked the view with a legal pad. He nodded once or twice to acknowledge things they said to him, but otherwise stared down during the entire proceeding.
About 30 reporters, camera operators and photographers crowded the courtroom, along with about a dozen Broward Sheriff ’s deputies.
At issue was a motion filed under seal Friday by Cruz’s defense team.
The sealed document was not described in detail, although Broward Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Scherer said it involved the defense attorneys’ “access” to their client.
It’s unclear precisely what
Scherer was referring to. After the hearing, Chief Assistant Public Defender Gordon Weekes told reporters his team has had physical access to Cruz.
The judge agreed to a defense request to allow the motion to remain sealed, saying that it concerned a narrow issue and that another judge had previously agreed to keep it sealed.
The defense also signaled that it would want to keep future documents under seal.
Cruz’s appearance in court represented a rare chance for the public to see a person accused of mass murder. Of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern history, Cruz is the only shooter to survive.
Authorities have said Cruz was a depressed, troubled teen with a history of behavioral problems and mental health treatment.
Documents from the Florida Department of Children and Families, first reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, describe images of Cruz cutting his arms, drawing racist symbols and expressing a desire to buy a gun.
“It is unknown what he is buying the gun for,” the DCF report said.
A Broward County judge on Monday granted DCF’s request to release the documents to the public.
“It’s clear that there is extreme public interest in this case,” John Jackson, acting general counsel for DCF, said during an afternoon hearing.
“We don’t want to be the one party at the table that looks like they’re hiding something, or looks like they’ve got something to hide, because we absolutely do not,” Jackson said.
DCF released the documents Monday night, saying the agency was “absolutely heartbroken and disgusted” by the shooting but had thoroughly investigated claims that Cruz had been abused or neglected.
During the investigation, in September 2016, Lynda Cruz said her son’s behavior was linked to “a breakup with a girl who was cheating on [him].” She and the girl’s mom had told the teens they “had to end the relationship because it was unhealthy for everyone.”
Cruz began cutting himself after his relationship broke up, she said.
DCF investigators concluded there were “some implications” for Cruz’s safety but determined he was receiving adequate support from his school and outpatient care from Henderson Mental Health in Broward County. The Department closed its investigation in November 2016. Lynda Cruz died the following November.
DCF said it has had no other involvement with Cruz.