Nation & World News
Nation & World News

Parkland shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz withdraws not guilty plea, stands mute on 34 counts

People visit one of seventeen crosses following a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 15. Gov. Rick Scott has called for more law enforcement officers in schools, but that will take time, a Palm Beach County School Police official said Tuesday. (Greg Lovett / The Palm Beach Post)
People visit one of seventeen crosses following a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 15. Gov. Rick Scott has called for more law enforcement officers in schools, but that will take time, a Palm Beach County School Police official said Tuesday. (Greg Lovett / The Palm Beach Post)
By Eliot Kleinberg, Palm Beach Post
March 8, 2018

THURSDAY, 4:15PM ET UPDATE:  Nikolas Cruz withdrew his not guilty plea Thursday and instead chose to "stand mute," according to a court motion.

The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.

PREVIOUS REPORT:

A grand jury in Broward County has formally indicted Nikolas Cruz in the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, the county's state attorney announced Wednesday.

Explore>> Read more trending news

The panel charged the 19-year-old with 17 counts of premeditated first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder in the mass shooting at the Parkland high school that left 14 students and three adults dead.

About the Author

Eliot Kleinberg, Palm Beach Post
More Stories

The Latest

FILE - Actor Gerard Depardieu addresses the media during the press conference for the film 'Saint Amour' at the 2016 Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Axel Schmidt, File)

Credit: AP

French actor Gérard Depardieu to stand trial for alleged sexual assaults on film set

7m ago

Thai officials secretly planned to deport Uyghurs while making repeated public denials

19m ago

A European startup is set to launch an orbital rocket on its first test flight

24m ago

Featured

Orange Crush event organizer Steven Smalls looks out at Tybee Island's South Beach, site of the 2025 HBCU spring break festival scheduled for April 19 on Georgia's coast. (Justin Taylor/The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Credit: Justin Taylor for The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Make Orange Crush sweet again? New era dawns for infamous HBCU beach party

Orange Crush, an HBCU spring break party at a Georgia beach, enters a new era this April with a sanctioned festival organizers hope will attract 30,000 attendees

Gridlock Guy: Lessons learned from becoming a true Atlanta commuter

After years of covering conditions during drive time, I am a part of the gridlock daily. Here are a few lessons that my joining the masses in Atlanta traffic has given me.

Is Atlanta still America’s Black mecca? This native isn’t so sure

A new monthly content series from UATL — the AJC’s Black culture franchise — will shed light on the reality (or mirage) behind this question.