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FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Nearly four years after the deadly and devastating school shooting that claimed the lives of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, 23-year-old self-confessed shooter Nikolas Cruz will be appearing in court Wednesday morning to plead guilty.
Manuel Oliver lost his son, Joaquin Oliver, in the shooting.
“We’re all OK with the idea that this will definitely move forward, something that has been very slow,” said Oliver.
Since then, he has made it his mission to fight gun violence.
“Joaquin is not here, but we are still here,” said Manuel, “so we got to do things for Joaquin, with Joaquin, along with Joaquin, we can save tons of kids.”
Freshman Alyssa Alhadeff was also killed that day.
“It is just very emotional knowing that, you know, we are finally at this point in time,” said Alyssa’s mother Lori Alhadeff.
Alhadeff is fighting for change with her non-profit and as a member of the Broward County School Board.
“Every day I work hard to be Alyssa’s voice, to honor Alyssa,” said Alhadeff. “I’m just staying laser-focused on my goals and missions to help make our schools safer.”
Fellow board member Debbie Hixon lost her husband, Christopher Hixon, who was the athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and was shot while trying to wrestle the gun from the shooter.
On the eve of Cruz’s hearing, she posted pictures of her touring different schools in Parkland, including the weight room her husband designed at MSD.
Cruz is also scheduled to face a judge regarding an altercation with a jail guard in November 2018. The judge will sentence him for the four charges he pled guilty to on Friday.
Cruz is expected to plead guilty on 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.
In the coming months, jurors will decide whether Cruz should be sentenced to life in prison or face the death penalty.
“The shooter should die from execution and have them seek the death penalty, is the outcome that I’d like to see,” said Alhadeff.
“It’s a mixed feeling,” said Oliver. “I prefer to think that justice will show, and it will never be enough justice because no one is bringing my son back.”
“I’m glad because they can take that building and knock it down once everything is done, it won’t drag on for years and years as a not guilty plea,” former MSD teacher Jim Gard said.
7News legal expert Howard Finkelstein warns jury selection for the penalty phase will be a long and arduous process because it will be a full trial, not to determine guilt or innocence but whether or not he lives or dies.
Complete coverage of the hearing will be broadcast Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. on 7 and online at WSVN.com.
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