Florida prosecutor seeks death penalty for accused school shooter

Nikolas Cruz, facing 17 charges of premeditated murder in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, appears in court for a status hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. February 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Stocker/Pool

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Florida prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case against Nikolas Cruz, the former student accused of carrying out the shooting spree last month at a Parkland high school in which 17 people were killed, according to a notice filed in court on Tuesday.

Michael Satz, the state attorney in Broward County, filed the notice with Judge Elizabeth Scherer of his office’s intent to seek the death penalty, as required under Florida law.

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; editing by Grant McCool)