A former neighbor of Nikolas Cruz, the suspected shooter who killed 17 people in a Florida school, said she “begged” police to act regarding his disturbing behavior and threatening social media posts, CNN reported Tuesday.
“He was pure evil,” Joelle Guarino, the Florida resident, told CNN.
“I was actually going to move when he turned 18. I did not want to live down the street from him knowing he was going to own a gun,” she said.
Ms. Guarino’s son showed her multiple posts on social media from Mr. Cruz, including one of an AR-15 and another about shooting up a school, CNN reported. She said the latter post is what pushed her to call 911 and alert authorities, but when a police officer came to her home, he said there was nothing he could do.
“I begged him, and he basically told me that it was not an immediate threat. He couldn’t do anything, is what he told me,” she said.
“I remember him leaving and thinking, ’My God, he’s going to kill someone, and I can do nothing about it,’” Ms. Guarino said referring to Mr. Cruz.
The suspect has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and is being held without bond. He’s accused of opening fire on Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. Those counts represent the 17 people — 14 students and three adults — who lost their lives during the massacre.
The tragedy has sparked a nationwide conversation on both gun control and mental health.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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