Top Moments From Day 1

The first day of Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz's sentencing hearing was packed with emotions for the family of the shooting's victims and survivors.

Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder last fall. Jurors were sworn in last month to decide whether Cruz will be sentenced to the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The penalty phase of his case could take four months.

Day 1 Begins With Opening Statements

Cruz's sentencing hearing began Monday morning at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Family members of some of the victims were photographed arriving at the courthouse before proceedings began.

The prosecution presented its opening statement first. Surrounded by his defense team, Cruz could be seen sitting with his head down while doodling as lead prosecutor Michael Satz delivered his team's opening remarks.

Satz described a video he said Cruz filmed days before the shooting occurred. Satz said that, in the video, Cruz said he was "going to be the next school shooter in 2018" and added, "I can't wait."

The shooting that followed was a "systematic murder," Satz said.

The defense team decided to save its opening statement for when the time comes to present Cruz's case. After breaking for lunch, court resumed with the prosecution calling its first witnesses.

First Witness Takes the Stand

First to take the witness stand was Brittany Sinitch, who was a teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at the time of the shooting. Sinitch's testimony was delayed as courtroom officials dealt with technical issues that arose in the first few minutes after she took the stand. Cruz's defense team meanwhile requested a 45-day continuance, saying one of its key witnesses is retiring.

Once the technical issues were resolved, Sinitch began describing her memory of how the shooting unfolded. Her students were quick to react once they heard gunshots, she said, and made sure the classroom door was closed and the lights were off. Some students hid under Sinitch's desk with her, while others hid in the corners of the classroom, she said.

Sinitch described calling 911 "out of instinct" shortly after the shooting began. She started crying on the stand as audio from that 911 call was played for the courtroom.

Court Plays Videos From Shooting

The prosecution called up former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Danielle Gilbert as its second witness of the day. Gilbert recorded videos during the shooting, which were then played for the courtroom. Jurors were able to hear the video and watch the clips play, but the gallery could only hear the audio.

Cruz could be seen holding his head in his hands as the recordings played. Some of the victims' family members who were in the gallery could be seen crying or leaving the room. Gilbert could also be seen crying on the stand as the recordings continued.

The prosecution called former student Dylan Kraemer as its next witness. Kraemer had also recorded a video during the shooting, which was played to the courtroom.

Journalists in the courtroom reported that some people in the gallery could see the video Kraemer recorded from the shooting as it played. Some of the victims' family members reacted by shouting, "Shut it off." A deputy walked over to remind people in the gallery that they were not permitted to make comments as court was in session.

Defense Calls for Mistrial

Cruz's defense team then called for a mistrial, citing the yelling from victims' family members in the gallery. Judge Elizabeth Scherer denied the motion.

The prosecution's next few witnesses included the school's former assistant principal, a retired FBI special agent and an FBI digital forensic examiner, all of whom took the stand briefly to answer questions about the school's surveillance system.

Court in Recess

Court adjourned around 4:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. The second day of Cruz's sentencing hearing is expected to begin on Tuesday at about 9 a.m.

Therapy Dogs Wait Outside Courtroom

Therapy dogs were stationed outside the Broward County courtroom during the trial, according to pool reporters.

Oliver and Sophie will be at the courthouse throughout the trial, along with another team of dogs.

Several of the victims' family members were seen getting emotional in court Monday as the prosecution detailed the events of the shooting, including sharing the names of those killed and wounded.

Who Are the Jurors Deciding His Fate?

Twelve jurors will decide whether Nikolas Cruz will face the death penalty or life without parole for the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder last fall. His sentencing hearing began on Monday after weeks of delays. The penalty phase of his case is expected to last about four months.

Five women and seven men were sworn in to consider Cruz's case last month, according to the Miami-based television news station WPLG. Ten alternates were also sworn in.

The station identified the main jurors by their occupations, saying the group of 12 includes: an IT analyst, a former French military officer, a probation officer, a stocking supervisor at Walmart, a computer technician, a claims adjuster with the University of Miami, a library worker, a human resources worker, a legal assistant, an immigration officer, a person who works with a family-run business, a library worker, and an investigator for a medical device company.

The jurors and alternates are being seated together in the courtroom so that everyone within the group is unsure of who is part of the main jury and who is an alternate, according to WPLG.

Photos From Day 1 of Sentencing Hearing

Photos and videos taken during the first day of Nikolas Cruz's sentencing hearing began circulating online shortly after the hearing began.

The day started with the arrival of victims' and survivors' family members.

Former Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky, who was mayor at the time of the shooting, acknowledged the first day of Cruz's sentencing hearing in a tweet before court began. Accompanying her tweet was a photo of the 17 students and staff members who died in the shooting.

"My heart goes out to the 17 families who lost loved ones and to all in our community who were affected," Hunschofsky's tweet said. "It will be another tough day, weeks, and months for so many who will be reliving that tragic day on 2/14/18."

Cruz, who pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder last fall in connection with the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, appeared in several photos alongside his defense team.

In some photos taken while video from the shooting was played, Cruz could be seen holding his head in his hands.

Local news outlets also shared video captured inside the courtroom on Monday as witnesses for the prosecution testified. In one video shared by local station WPEC, former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Danielle Gilbert could be seen crying as videos she recorded on the day of the shooting played to the courtroom.

The video shared by WPEC went on to show the introduction of another witness, former student Dylan Kraemer. Kraemer also took video on the day of the shooting that was shared with the courtroom.

Photos Show Cruz Reacting to Recordings

Nikolas Cruz could be seen holding his head in his hands as videos from the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School played inside the courtroom Monday afternoon.

The first set of videos were recorded by Danielle Gilbert, a former student who was at the school on the day of the shooting. Gilbert was called to testify by the prosecution as its second witness of the day. Gilbert could be seen crying on the stand while listening to the videos.

Dylan Kraemer, another former student who was on campus the day of the shooting, was called to testify for the prosecution after Gilbert. He too had recorded video on the day of the shooting, the audio of which was also played to the gallery Monday afternoon.

The gallery could not see the videos but could hear the audio. The jury was able to both see the videos and hear the audio.

Several family members of shooting victims and survivors were seated in the gallery for Monday's hearing. As the videos played, some of those family members could be seen crying and holding on to each other. Some left the room after the videos began.

As people in the gallery reacted to the videos, Cruz could be seen leaning his head into one hand, then two. Photos taken by reporters in the courtroom showed him covering his face with his hands.

Video from inside the courtroom also showed Cruz rubbing his face and head with his hands as audio from the shooting videos played.

Court Adjourned for the Day

Court has adjourned for the day.

After delivering an opening statement, the prosecution called seven witness to the stand. Those witnesses included a teacher and two former students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. A retired FBI special agent and an FBI digital forensic examiner also took the stand to explain their involvement with the school's surveillance system server in the days following the shooting in 2018.

Videos from inside classrooms during the shooting were played in court, triggering emotional responses from the families of victims sitting in the courtroom.

The judge also denied a motion for mistrial from the defense after an outburst from a family over the playing of a graphic video in the presence of the jury. Judge Scherer said someone shouting one thing was not grounds for a mistrial.

The jury will report back to court tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

Former Assistant Principal Takes Stand

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's former assistant principal, Maximo Rosario, took the witness stand briefly on Monday.

Rosario was at the school as its surveillance system was gradually upgraded. He answered questions about the placement of cameras that operated with motion sensors at the time of the shooting.

Rosario was the assistant principal at the time of the shooting. He said he worked as the high school's assistant principal for about 10 years and currently works for the Broward County School Board.

Rosario was the fourth witness called Monday by the prosecution.

Judge Denies Motion for Mistrial

Judge Elizabeth Scherer denied the defense's motion for a mistrial.

The defense called for a mistrial because the jury was present during an outburst from a victim's family when a video of the shooting was played at a loud volume.

Lead defense attorney Melisa McNeill objected to the video, depicting Nikolas Cruz shooting into a classroom, calling it inflammatory.

When the video was played on the T.V. in the courtroom, people in the gallery shouted to shut it off. They then left the courtroom, crying.

Judge Scherer said she nor the jury could hear or see the outburst. She added that someone shouting one thing is "not even close to grounds for a mistrial."

Family Yells for Shooting Video to be Turned Off

Another former student takes the stand. Dylan Kraemer was a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at the time of the shooting.

When they heard gunshots that day, the students in his classroom hid in the corners of the room and knocked down a filing cabinet to hide behind, he testified.

Then, Nikolas Cruz fired into their classroom through the window in the door. Kraemer said bullets flew through the glass for about 20 or 30 seconds. Two people were killed and many others were wounded.

Kraemer said he saw the shooter through the window of the door. He was wearing a hat, glasses and a vest and holding an AR-15 firearm.

The students waited 15 to 20 minutes before the police came to evacuate them from the classroom.

Kraemer also recorded a video during the shooting, showing the classroom door where the bullets came through.

In the video, loud gunfire was heard followed by screaming. Someone yelled "oh my God!"

According to pool reporters in the courtroom, the video played on T.V. screens. Some of the victims' family members yelled "shut it off" with their hands in the air. When the video was played again, a deputy told them they could not make comments. Those family members were seen wiping away tears before leaving the courtroom. One woman was sobbing.

The attorneys were called for a sidebar with the Judge.

Break

Court is taking a 15 minute break.

Family Members Leave Room As Video Plays

The prosecution played video clips one student took during the Parkland school shooting in 2018.

Danielle Gilbert, the second witness called to the stand on Monday by the prosecution, could be seen crying as she listened to the audio from the videos she had recorded. According to reporters who were in the courtroom, the gallery was able to listen to audio from the video clips but could not see the visuals. The jury was able to see and hear the video.

In the early sections of the clips that were played, loud gunshots could be heard as the school's fire alarm went off. People could be heard screaming as the shooting continued.

In the courtroom, Gilbert kept her gaze down and cried. Some of the victims' family members who were seated in the gallery were seen holding each other, crying and trying to plug their ears as the video played. Others ran out of the courtroom as sounds of screaming and gunshots played.

Witness Recorded Videos of Shooting

The next witness to take the stand is Danielle Gilbert. She was a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on the day of the shooting.

During her teacher's lecture, they heard gunshots. Gilbert said the students dropped to the ground and went behind the teacher's desk to hide out of the sightline of the classroom door's window.

Gilbert said she and her classmates were like "sitting ducks" and had no way to protect themselves.

Nikolas Cruz shot into their classroom, killing one student and injuring four others.

She and her classmates sat and waited in the classroom until the police came to evacuate them.

Gilbert said her first instinct was to take out her phone and start recording. She took seven videos as the shooting was happening that she later turned over to the authorities.

Teacher Cries as 911 Call Plays

Brittany Sinitch, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School teacher, said she called 911 minutes after hearing gunshots.

She instructed her students to take cover in the corners of the classroom and behind her desk and called the police, she testified Monday.

Sinitch said the police on the call could not hear her over the sound of the gunshots, which she described as "incredibly loud."

As the prosecution played the 911 call, Sinitch began to cry on the stand.

The defense did not cross-examine Sinitch.

Teacher Recalls Moment Shooting Began

Brittany Sinitch, a teacher who survived the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, recalled the moments leading up to the deadly school shooting on February 14, 2018.

Sinitch was the first witness the prosecution called to the stand on Monday in the sentencing hearing for Nikolas Cruz.

Sinitch was teaching a class on the first floor of the 1200 building, where the shooting occurred. She recalled her students in fourth period had been reading Romeo and Juliet, and so she was having them make Valentine's Day cards from the perspectives of the characters.

"We were having so much fun until I heard what I describe as just the loudest noise you could possibly imagine going directly into my hallway," Sinitch said.

Once the "incredibly loud" gunshots began, Sinitch said her students reacted quickly. They made sure the door was shut, and her class turned off the room's lights. She hid under her desk with some students, and others hid in the corners of the room.

Sinitch said she called 911 "just out of instinct."

"We tried to stay as quiet as possible until what I heard was like a walkie talkie type of sound," Sinitch said, adding that she interpreted the walkie talkie sound to be an indication that law enforcement officials had arrived. At that point, Sinitch said she looked over her desk and saw officers motioning for her classroom to evacuate.

No shots were fired inside her classroom, and none of the students in her class were shot, Sinitch said.

Defense Asks for Continuance

The defense has asked the court for a 45-day continuance in this penalty hearing.

A court may grant an continuance to delay proceedings until a later date.

The defense wants to delay after the state presents its case-in-chief because a key witness, Dr. Natalie Novick Brown, is retiring from forensic trial work as recommended by her doctor because of a "serious medical condition."

Nikolas Cruz's legal team said they need time to update Novick, which would take several weeks.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Teacher Takes Stand

The prosecution has called its first witness to the stand.

Brittany Sinitch was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School before she began working there as a teacher in 2017.

When the prosecution tried to present a map of the high school building, a technical difficulty occurred.

Sinitch was asked to make a mark on the map but Judge Elizabeth Scherer said there are privacy screenings on monitors, preventing the jurors and the defense from seeing the exhibit.

Scherer said this is a brand-new courtroom and sends the jury out until the issue is resolved.

Prosecution Begins Calling Witnesses

After breaking for lunch, court is back in session.

The prosecution has started the next phase of the sentencing hearing by calling witnesses to the stand.

Prosecutors presented their opening statement Monday morning before the courtroom took a break for lunch. The prosecution team's opening included a detailed overview of Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz's actions on February 14, 2018, the day of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Once the prosecution team finished delivering its opening statement to the jury, Nikolas Cruz's defense team said it will save its opening statement for when the time comes to present its case. That isn't expected to happen for weeks, according to the Associated Press.

Survivor Calls Death Penalty 'Barbaric'

Cameron Kasky, a Parkland survivor, referred to the death penalty as "barbaric" and said it "must be abolished in all cases" as Nikolas Cruz's sentencing trial got underway Monday.

Kasky, who was a junior at the time of the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, released a statement about his position on the death penalty on Sunday morning.

"The death penalty is barbaric and implementing state violence will not bring any of the victims back," Kasky's statement began. "It will simply create a sense of Justice, which will only come when the gun manufacturers and the politicians who support them are held accountable."

Kasky went on to say the Parkland shooter "does not deserve to live" but said "the US government and our 'justice' system is incapable of responsibly wielding the power to determine the value of life."

"Just because this guy is clearly deserving of it doesn't mean the many innocent individuals on death row are guilty. Killing one innocent person is too many, so the death penalty must be abolished in all cases," he said.

Kasky's statement concluded by calling for accountability from the "politicians who support the gun lobby."

"The media will play to your emotional desire for justice to try and create a false narrative that the MSD shooter is responsible for the shooting, but make no mistake: it's the politicians who support the gun lobby that should be held accountable for this," he said.

On Monday morning, Kasky posted a tweet reiterating that imposing the death penalty on Cruz "will not bring anyone back to life."

"It will not stop the next school shooter," his tweet said. "It will bring our community neither justice nor peace. Just more state-sponsored violence cheered on by adoring conservative fans. Be smarter than that."

Court Goes to Lunch

After the prosecution gave its opening statement, the court has gone to lunch.

The defense has reserved its opening statement until after the state presents its case.

When court returns, the prosecution will begin calling witnesses.

The lunch break will go until 1:15 p.m., but court proceedings will resume promptly at 1:30 p.m.

Prosecution Calls Shooting a 'Systematic Murder'

The prosecution began its opening statement by highlighting that Nikolas Cruz planned the murder at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

Prosecutor Michael Satz said Cruz recorded a video on his cellphone saying he was "going to be the next school shooter in 2018." Cruz said his goal was to kill at least 20 people with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

"It's going to be a big event," Satz said, quoting Cruz in the video. "When you see me on the news, you're going to know who I am."

Cruz added "you're all going to die... I can't wait."

Satz called Cruz's plan "cold, calculated, manipulative and deadly," adding it was a "systematic murder."

Cruz's adoptive mother had died in November 2017, a few months before the shooting. Satz said Cruz "had been planning to be a school shooter long before his mother had passed away."

Satz then recounted the timeline of events during the shooting and noted that the jury will see surveillance video.

He reviewed the layout of the school and then went through each move Cruz made. Satz explained which classrooms Cruz shot into as he moved throughout the school. He also named each person who was killed and wounded.

Cruz also had a tactical vest with 10 magazines. Satz said 139 rounds were fired during the incident.

Satz also described the chaos during the shooting, as the gunfire triggered the fire alarm. Classrooms on the second floor ignored fire protocol and instead began active shooter protocol. Some classrooms on the upper floors, however, did not hear gunshots and began to evacuate down stairwells. Only after they heard gunfire on the stairs did those students and teachers ran back up to barricade in their classrooms.

The shooting began at about 2:21 p.m. and ended at about 2:27 p.m. when Cruz left the building.

When Cruz left the school, he went to a Subway in Walmart and then a McDonalds. He ran into the brother of one of the shooting victims and even asked him for a ride.

Families of Victims Seen Crying in Court

Family members of the victims in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting could be seen getting emotional as Nikolas Cruz's sentencing hearing was underway Monday morning.

Prosecutors were walking the jury through how the shooting unfolded, explaining step-by-step the actions Cruz took on that February afternoon in 2018.

As the day's events were described, victims' family members who were in attendance could be seen putting their heads in their hands and crying quietly.

Some journalists who were also in the room shared images on social media of the family members' responses to the description of the shooting.

Cathy Russon, an executive producer with Law & Crime Trial Network, tweeted some images of the courtroom reactions.

"You can see victim family members with heads down, wiping tears, some look very angry as Satz describes moment by moment #NikolasCruz massacring their children," Russon tweeted.

Break

Court is taking a 10 minute break.

Cruz Keeps Head Down, Doodles

Defendant Nikolas Cruz has been keeping his head down as the prosecution begins its opening statement.

He appears to be writing or doodling on a piece of paper as the prosecution recounts the events of the deadly 2018 shooting. Cruz's head is in his hands.

Cruz is also wearing a facemask, but no one else on his legal team is wearing one.

Families of Victims Arrive in Court

The families of the Parkland shooting victims are in court today for Nikolas Cruz's penalty hearing at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Tom and Gena Hoyer lost their son, Luke Hoyer, in the 2018 shooting.

Debbie Dixon lost her husband, Chris Hixon, in the shooting.

According to pool reports from inside the courthouse, Fred Guttenberg is sitting in the gallery. He lost his 14-year-old daughter in the shooting.

WATCH: Sentencing Hearing Begins

The sentencing hearing for Nikolas Cruz is now underway. Cruz pleaded guilty in October to 17 counts of first-degree murder in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Opening statements are now underway, the prosecution is then expected to call its first witness. Earlier Monday, the jury received instructions.

Watch live here or below.

Trial Expected to Last Four Months

Nikolas Cruz has entered the courtroom as his penalty trial is about to begin.

This trial is expected to last four months and the jury, comprised of seven men and five women, is set to hear from more than 1,000 witnesses. Cruz is facing the death penalty.

Cruz already pleaded guilty to killing 17 people in Parkland, Florida in 2018. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

The hearing was supposed to begin in 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.