FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - As the life or death trial of the Parkland school shooter continues, some of the families of the 17 victims are hearing exactly how they died.
“The cause of death of Alex Schachter?” asked prosecutor Michael Satz during court, Tuesday.
“Is multiple gunshot wounds,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Rebecca MacDougal.
“The cause of death of Alyssa Alhadeff?” asked Satz.
“Is multiple gunshot wounds,” said MacDougal.
The cause of death of Scott Beigel, doctor?” asked Satz.
“Is multiple gunshot wounds,” said MacDougal.
“We’re able to determine the cause of death of Helena Ramsay?” asked Satz.
“Yes, gunshot wound of head,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Marlon Osbourne.
There was unthinkable testimony in court Tuesday. It’s only week two of the expected months-long ordeal, each day filled with raw emotion, seemingly tougher than the last.
“And how about the cause of death of Gina Montalto?” asked Satz.
“Multiple gunshot wounds,” said Osbourne.
According to experts, Montalto was shot at close range.
“The end of the gun, the mussel, was in contact through clothing, to the skin,” said Osbourne.
Jaime Guttenberg was shot while running away.
“And what was the cause of death of Jaime Guttenberg?” asked Satz.
“Gunshot wound of neck and torso,” said Osbourne.
Her parents were inside the courtroom, surrounded by other heartbroken family members, all of whom sat feet from Nikolas Cruz, who shot and killed 17 students and staff members four years ago at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The gunman is now facing the death penalty. Cruz passes the time on his trial with his head down scribbling on a sheet of paper when not speaking with his attorneys.
Jurors also heard Tuesday from the man who sold Cruz, then 18, the rifle. He asked Cruz what his plans were with the weapon.
“I came out and asked him, ‘What are you going to do with the rifle?’ And the reply was, ‘I go shooting with my friends on the weekend. I just want my own stuff,'” said the man who sold Cruz the weapon.
What he did with the gun also reshaped Florida gun laws. Before his attack, he was able to buy the assault rifle as a teenager at the gun shop in Sunrise. Now, someone has to be 21 to do so.
Attorneys are going through the autopsy of each one of the 17 victims and got through most of them by the end of Tuesday.
The shooter, in this case, has already pleaded guilty. It’s up to the jury to decide if Cruz spends the rest of his life in prison or if he is sentenced to the death penalty.
Day eight of the court hearing will take place Wednesday morning.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.