Scot Peterson was discovered not responsible for baby abuse after he didn’t cease a mass shooter in 2018 (Credit score: Fox / AP)
The previous sheriff’s deputy who didn’t confront the mass shooter at a Parkland, Florida highschool in 2018 was discovered not responsible of kid abuse.
Scot Peterson, a former Broward County sheriff’s deputy, was serving as a faculty useful resource officer at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Excessive Faculty when a mass shooter opened fireplace on college students.
In the course of the capturing, Peterson took cowl for over 45 minutes as former scholar Nikolas Cruz killed 17 college students and academics, and left one other 17 wounded.
Within the quick aftermath of what grew to become the worst college capturing in United States historical past, Peterson’s actions have been extremely scrutinized and criticized.
‘He didn’t have the braveness or one thing occurred, however he actually did a poor job. There’s no query about that,’ then-President Donald Trump stated.
Eight days after the capturing, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel suspended Peterson with out pay.
‘Scot Peterson was completely on campus for this whole occasion,’ the sheriff stated, arguing that he ought to have performed extra to cease the killer.
In 2019, Peterson was charged with seven counts of felony baby neglect, three counts of culpable negligence and one depend of perjury.
‘When Scot Peterson ran, he left youngsters trapped within the constructing with a predator unchecked,’ Assistant State Lawyer Kristen Gomes stated through the prosecution’s closing arguments.
Peterson’s protection lawyer argued that Peterson took cowl as a result of echoes from gunshots made it unimaginable to inform the place the gunman was positioned..
‘Two dozen witnesses got here in right here one after the other and instructed you they couldn’t inform from the sounds exactly what space we’re speaking about,’ protection lawyer Mark Eiglarsh stated.
Eiglarsh additionally criticized the kid abuse costs, arguing that in his function as a faculty useful resource officer Peterson was not thought-about ‘accountable for a kid’s welfare.’
After a two week-long trial, Peterson was discovered not responsible on all counts. The jury deliberated for over 19 hours earlier than delivering the decision.
Peterson took his glasses off and sobbed within the courtroom as a jury foreman learn the not responsible verdicts.
The previous deputy, who voluntarily retired as criticism of his actions mounted, was embraced by household and supporters within the courtroom.
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