FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz’s statement to police (all times local):
6 p.m.
A newly released transcript shows Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz told detectives he bought the gun allegedly used in the Parkland attack a year or two earlier because he was afraid of demons and voices in his head.
Prosecutors released a redacted transcript of Cruz’s post-shooting statement Monday afternoon. Cruz made the 12-hour statement to Broward sheriff’s Detective John Curcio shortly after the Feb. 14 shooting that killed 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Cruz told Curcio the voice began years ago when he father died and got worse when his mother died last fall. Cruz said the voice would tell him to burn, kill and destroy. Cruz said he would set fires in a pit and kill wild birds. Cruz said the voice had told him to hurt people the day before the shooting.
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A newly released transcript shows Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz told detectives he tried to kill himself two months before the massacre that left 17 dead.
Cruz told Broward sheriff’s Detective John Curcio shortly after the shooting that he used a lot of drugs, including marijuana and anti-anxiety pills. Cruz said during the interrogation that he took nearly an entire bottle of ibuprofen in an attempted suicide, but he threw up when his heart and stomach began to hurt. Cruz said he also tried to drink himself to death several years ago with vodka, tequila and wine. He told Curcio he was depressed and lonely.
Prosecutors released a redacted transcript of Cruz’s post-shooting statement Monday afternoon. Cruz made the 12-hour statement to Curcio shortly after the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
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4:30 p.m.
A newly released transcript shows Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz spat out “kill me” and then cursed as he sat alone in a sheriff’s interrogation room just hours after the massacre that left 17 dead.
Broward sheriff’s Detective John Curcio had just left Cruz alone to get him some water when the 19-year-old suspect made that exclamation.
Prosecutors released a redacted transcript of Cruz’s post-shooting statement Monday afternoon after a judge ruled last month that nonconfession portions should be made public. Cruz made the 12-hour statement to Curcio shortly after the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The Associated Press and other media had sought the statement’s release under Florida’s broad public records laws.
Cruz’s attorneys had wanted it suppressed, saying its disclosure could hinder his right to a fair trial.
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