FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer announced on Oct. 13 that a divided jury recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole as punishment for the Parkland school shooter on count 15 of first-degree murder.
Count 15 of 17 in the penalty phase is for the murder of Joaquin Oliver Padauy who Nikolas Cruz killed on Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, according to Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer.
Joaquin, 17, a senior, was on the 1200 building’s third floor when he was shot four times and died of his wounds, according to Chief Assistant State Attorney Mike Satz.
Kyle Laman, who was injured, was among the witnesses who saw Joaquin attempting to get into a locked restroom. Police officers found Joaquin dead in the doorway to classroom 1246, records show.
Dr. Terrill Tops, a forensic pathologist with the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office, performed his autopsy. He said Joaquin died of a gunshot wound to the head.
Joaquin, a Venezuelan American, had just become a U.S. citizen in 2017. He was interested in civil rights and was considering studying marketing. He was also interested in writing, art, and music and was passionate about basketball and The Miami Heat.
Interactive graphic: Understanding the choices jurors made on the verdict form
Joaquin’s father Manuel Oliver reacts to the verdict
Joaquin’s mother, Patricia Padauy, and sister, Andrea Ghersi, react to the verdict
Videos of court testimony related to Joaquin’s case
Joaquin’s mother, Patricia Padauy, reads her victim impact statement
Joaquin’s sister, Andrea Ghersi, reads her victim impact statement
Joaquin’s ‘soulmate’ Victoria Gonzalez reads her victim impact statement
Survivor injured Kyle Laman testifies
Teacher Ernest Rospierski testifies
Dr. Terrill Tops testifies
Interactive graphic on the penalty phase