In the early afternoon of February 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz entered the building of his former school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The 19-year-old was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and opened fire on students and teachers. He killed 14 children and three adults. In addition, 15 other people were seriously injured.

Shortly thereafter, Cruz was arrested and confessed to the crime. At his trial, the jury ultimately recommended that the death penalty not be imposed on him. Instead, the jury voted for life imprisonment. The court has yet to announce the final sentence. After the jury's statement, relatives of the victims and survivors of the rampage were given the opportunity to say a few words to the shooter themselves.

There were emotional scenes in the courtroom. Some family members reacted angry and disappointed at the jury's decision. David Robinovitz, grandfather of a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was shot, addressed the perpetrator only as a "Parkland killer" and, according to CNN, said that Cruz "won for now" but will die one day: "Then, Parkland killer, it is my hope that you will go somewhere where you will face your maker. And I hope he sends you straight to hell where you will burn for eternity." The mother of one victim said: "This 100 percent should have been the death penalty." Her husband declared, "Our justice system disgusts me. The jury disgusts me."

Survivor Samantha Mayor said in a written statement read by her parents that she felt "justice had not been served": "Against the odds, I fear that one day he might be released." The brother of one of the victims also demanded the death penalty for the gunman in clear words: "He shouldn't live while my sister lies in her grave."

The parents of one surviving student reported that after three gunshot wounds, their son struggled to find his way back to life. "He's still limited in what he can and can't do. You'll never understand the pain he went through," the boy's mother told Nikolas Cruz, now 24, directly. "His life and that of our entire family has changed forever."

Cruz had pleaded guilty to 17 counts each of murder and attempted murder. At his hearing, he said he was sorry for what he had done. The prosecution had called for the death penalty for him, while his defense argued against the mental health problems of the perpetrator. Cruz was born with brain damage because his alcoholic mother drank alcohol and used drugs during pregnancy. The jury ultimately failed to reach the unanimous verdict required for the death penalty. Three of the twelve jurors did not agree - to the annoyance of many survivors and bereaved.

Sources: CNN/CBS News