Parkland trial: Dad feels 'failed' by jury that sentenced gunman to life

"I could not be more disappointed," dad Fred Guttenberg said after court.

ByEmily Shapiro
Last Updated: October 13, 2022, 1:38 PM EDT

Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz has been spared the death penalty and sentenced to life in prison by a Florida jury for carrying out the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that claimed 17 lives.

Cruz pleaded guilty last year to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection to the Feb. 14, 2018, killing of 14 students and three staff members at his former school. Among the victims were 15-year-old Peter Wang, an Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet who died while helping classmates escape, and 35-year-old Scott Beigel, a geography teacher who was shot dead while shepherding students to safety in his classroom.

This penalty phase trial was to determine if Cruz would be sentenced to death or life in prison for the massacre he committed at age 19.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Oct 13, 2022, 1:12 PM EDT

Fred Guttenberg: ‘Jury failed our families’

Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was killed in the massacre, said after court, "I'm not often stunned, but I am stunned by this verdict today."

Fred Guttenberg reacts as he awaits a verdict in the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022.
Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool

"I could not be more disappointed," he said.

“I don't know how this jury came to the conclusions that they did," he said.

Fred Guttenberg, with his wife, Jennifer, holds a photograph of their daughter, Jaime during the penalty phase in the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse on Aug. 2, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Amy Beth Bennett-Pool/Getty Images, FILE

“This decision today only makes it more likely that the next mass shooting will be attempted,” he said.

Guttenberg said he thinks the next mass shooter is planning his attack now, and "that person now believes that they can get away with it."

PHOTO: Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill, with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz puts her hands to her head as the last of 17 verdicts were read in the penalty phase of Cruz's trial, Oct. 13, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill, seated with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz touches her hands to her head as the last of the 17 verdicts were read in the penalty phase of Cruz's trial at the Broward County Courthouse, Oct. 13, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Amy Beth Bennett/Pool/Getty Images

“There are 17 victims that did not receive justice today,” Guttenberg said. “This jury failed our families today. But I will tell you: The monster is gonna go to prison, and in prison, I hope and pray, he receives the kind of mercy from prisoners that he showed to my daughter and the 16 others. … He will die in prison, and I will be waiting to read that news on that.”

Oct 13, 2022, 12:38 PM EDT

Victim's dad: Cruz 'did not deserve compassion'

Tony Montalto, whose 14-year-old daughter, Gina, was killed, called the jury’s decision a “gut punch.”

“Pressing the barrel of his weapon to my daughter's chest. That doesn't outweigh [that Nikolas Cruz] had a tough upbringing?” Montalto said.

PHOTO: Tony Montalto, father of Gina Montalto, one of the victims of the Parkland shooting, reacts to Nikolas Cruz being recommended life in prison in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Oct. 13, 2022.
Tony Montalto, father of Gina Montalto, one of the victims of the Parkland shooting, reacts as he speaks in the media room next to the courtroom after the verdicts were read in the penalty phase of the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Oct. 13, 2022.
Marco Bello/Reuters

“Society has to really look and reexamine who and what is a victim. Not everyone's a victim. My beautiful Gina. the other sons, daughters, spouses and fathers -- they were the victims here. Our justice system should have been used to punish this shooter to the fullest extent of the law,” he said. “Not as an act of revenge, but to protect our nation's schools.”

“I think that it puts all school children in jeopardy. It certainly sends the wrong message,” he continued. “This shooter did not deserve compassion.”

Oct 13, 2022, 12:22 PM EDT

Dad of slain 14-year-old: Cruz ‘got everything he wanted’

Max Schachter, whose 14-year-old son Alex was killed, tweeted that Nikolas Cruz “got everything he wanted” with the life sentence verdict.

PHOTO: Max Schachter, with his son, Ryan holds a photograph of his other son, Alex, just before giving his victim impact statement during the penalty phase in the trial of MSD shooter Nikolas Cruz on Aug. 3, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Max Schachter, with his son, Ryan, by his side, holds a photograph of his other son, Alex, just before giving his victim impact statement during the penalty phase in the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse on Aug. 3, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Amy Beth Bennett-Pool/Getty Images, FILE

"Prior to the shooting the Parkland murderer said he wanted to kill 20 people. He stopped after killing 17 including my sweet little boy Alex. Afterwards he didn’t want to die,” Schachter tweeted.

Meanwhile, “Our loved ones are in the cemetery.”

Oct 13, 2022, 12:17 PM EDT

Parents of 14-year-old victim: ‘I pray that animal suffers’

Ilan Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa was killed, was disappointed by the life sentence.

He told reporters after the verdict that Nikolas Cruz is “not a human being -- he’s an animal.”

"I pray that animal suffers every day of his life in jail. And that he has a short life,” he said.

PHOTO: Lori Alhadeff holds a photograph of her daughter, Alyssa, as she and her husband, Ilan Alhadeff, take the stand to give their victim impact statements during the penalty phase of the trial of in Fort Lauderdale, Aug. 2, 2022.
Assistant State Attorney Carolyn McCann hands Lori Alhadeff a photograph of Alhadeff's daughter, Alyssa, as she and her husband, Ilan Alhadeff, take the stand to give their victim impact statements during the penalty phase of the trial of in Fort Lauderdale, Aug. 2, 2022.
Amy Beth Bennett/Pool via Reuters, FILE
Ryan Petty comforts Ilan Alhadeff as they await the verdict in the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Oct. 13, 2022.
Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool

When asked if he was relieved he didn't have to see Cruz in court anymore, he responded, "It doesn't matter. We still have to go to the cemetery to see our daughter."

Alyssa’s mother, Lori Alhadeff, added, "What is the death penalty for if not for the killing of 17 people?"

Parents of Parkland shooting victims react after the jury recommends the shooter be sentenced to life in prison.
Parents of Parkland shooting victims react after the jury recommends the shooter be sentenced to life in prison.