Parkland shooting trial verdict reaction: What they’re saying on Twitter

The verdict is in. After seven hours of deliberation over two days, a Broward County jury has rejected the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz, who killed 14 students and three faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland during a mass shooting on Feb. 14, 2018.

Cruz previously pleaded guilty to all 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the shootings.

During the reading of the verdict, many family members shook their heads in frustration at the outcome.

Now, after a sentencing trial that lasted nearly three months — during which many of the victims’ families and friends heard the testimony every day — they and others in the community are sharing their thoughts on social media after hearing the jury’s decision.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Max Schachter, father of shooting victim Alex Schachter, was one of the first parents to post on Twitter following the verdict.

Broward County Commissioner and former Parkland City Commissioner Jared Moskowitz called the rejection of the death penalty “a travesty of justice.”

Broward County Public Schools shared mental health resources available to anyone who may need them because of the impact of the verdict.

Lori Alhadeff, mother of victim Alyssa Alhadeff, member of the Broward County School Board and founder of school-safety organization Make Our Schools Safe, posted a photo of her daughter with a link to her organization’s website.

State Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, who was Parkland’s mayor at the time of the shooting, reached out to the community after the verdict.

The Newtown Action Alliance, a national grassroots group formed after the Sandy Hook shooting to bring about legislative and cultural changes to end gun violence, vowed to continue its mission.

Just before the verdict was read at about 11 a.m. Thursday, Hunter Pollack shared a photo of his younger sister, Meadow, one of the victims, gazing down at a birthday candle.

Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist said the confessed gunman deserved the death penalty.

Change the Ref, founded by victim Joaquin Oliver’s parents Manuel and Patricia to use urban art as creative confrontation to expose mass shootings’ effects in America, simply posted a photo of Joaquin.

On his personal Twitter account, Manuel Oliver, Joaquin Oliver’s father, posted, “Mass murderers: you get to live your natural life, you get your 3 hot meals a day, you get to shower every day, get medical attention, hey, even a hobby or a new education. What a great message is this sending.” But he turned his attention back to the mission.

Ryan Deitsch, March For Our Lives co-founder and Parkland shooting survivor, posted that he’s against the death penalty in principle.

Andrew Weinstein, President Joe Biden’s nominee for public delegate to United Nations General Assembly, sent a message of support to Parkland.

State Rep. Dan Daley, a former Coral Springs City Commissioner, responded to the verdict in a series of posts, saying the “MSD trial has been a crushingly traumatic process for our community, especially the families of those who were violently murdered at their school, something no parent should ever experience.”