Cruz to be Sentenced in November

The sentencing for Nikolas Cruz will take place on November 1, 2022.

After reading all 17 counts, the jury recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge Elizabeth Scherer will have to accept this decision as the final sentence.

The state asked Judge Scherer to delay the sentencing until next month to allow victims to express themselves as everything not allowed under victim impact statements.

Jury Recommends Life in Prison on 5 More Counts

The jury in Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz's sentencing trial continued to recommend life in prison for counts nine through 13.

Counts 10 and 13 were for two students, Carmen Schentrup and Meadow Pollack. Counts nine, 11 and 12 were for geography teacher Scott Beigel, assistant football coach Aaron Feis and athletic director Christopher Hixon.

This is how the verdict list was read for counts 10 and 13:

• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt that Cruz was previously convicted of another capitol felony or another felony involving the use of threat violence to another person: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor Cruz knowingly created great risk death to many persons: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder committed while Cruz engaged in the commission of a burglary: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor first-degree murder was especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor first degree murder committed in cold, calculated, pre-mediated with without any pretense of moral or legal justification: Yes
• The jury finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating factor warrant possible sentence of death: Yes
• At least one members of the jury finds that one or more mitigating circumstances established by greater weight of the evidence: Yes
• For the eligibility for death penalty, the jury finds that the aggravating factors proven beyond reasonable doubt outweigh mitigating circumstances established: No

This is how the verdict was read for counts nine, 11 and 12:

• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt that Cruz was previously convicted of another capitol felony or another felony involving the use of threat violence to another person: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor Cruz knowingly created great risk death to many persons: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder committed while Cruz engaged in the commission of a burglary: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor first-degree murder was especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor first degree murder committed in cold, calculated, pre-mediated with without any pretense of moral or legal justification: Yes
• The jury finds that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor the first-degree murder was committed to disrupt or hinder the lawful exercise of any governmental function or the enforcement of laws: Yes
• The jury finds that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the victim as an appointed public official engaged in the performance of his duties if the motive for first-degree murder was related in whole or in part to victim's official capacity: Yes
• The jury finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating factor warrant possible sentence of death: Yes
• At least one members of the jury finds that one or more mitigating circumstances established by greater weight of the evidence: Yes
• For the eligibility for death penalty, the jury finds that the aggravating factors proven beyond reasonable doubt outweigh mitigating circumstances established: No

Jury Recommends Life in Prison Without Parole

The jury ruled that convicted Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz will face life in prison without parole for killing 17 people, 14 students and three teachers, in the school shooting on Feb. 14, 2018.

Jury deliberations began Wednesday and lasted over seven hours. The penalty trial has lasted several months.

The 24-year-old pled guilty to all 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder almost exactly one year ago on Oct. 20, 2021.

Jury Recommends Life in Prison So Far

The jury has so far recommended that Nikolas Cruz will get life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first nine counts.

This is how the verdict list was read out for the first eight counts:

• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt that Cruz was previously convicted of another capitol felony or another felony involving the use of threat violence to another person: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor Cruz knowingly created great risk death to many persons: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder committed while Cruz engaged in the commission of a burglary: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor first-degree murder was especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel: Yes
• The jury unanimously finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor first degree murder committed in cold, calculated, premediated with without any pretense of moral or legal justification: Yes
• The jury finds that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating factor warrant possible sentence of death: Yes
• At least one members of the jury finds that one or more mitigating circumstances established by greater weight of the evidence: Yes
• For the eligibility for death penalty, the jury finds that the aggravating factors proven beyond reasonable doubt outweigh mitigating circumstances established: No

The final finding determines that the jury recommends life in prison without the possibility for parole.

Family of Victims in Court as Verdict Read

Family members of the victims of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018 are in the courtroom as Judge Elizabeth Scherer reads the jury's decision.

Some family members could be seen bowing their heads, while others shook their heads and dabbed at tears.

The family members arrived to court Thursday morning in anticipation of the jury reaching a verdict in the sentencing trial for the gunman, Nikolas Cruz. The group could be seen greeting each other and hugging as they waited for proceedings to begin.

Judge Reads Verdict

Judge Elizabeth Scherer is now reading the jury's decision.

Watch live below:

Jury Enters Courtroom

Court is now in session, as Judge Elizabeth Scherer presides over the case.

The jury entered the courtroom at 10:51 a.m. ET. Nikolas Cruz watched from across the room, next to his defense team.

Nikolas Cruz Enters Courtroom

Nikolas Cruz has entered the courtroom. The 24-year-old will soon learn whether he will face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The jury reached its decision after deliberating for 7.5 hours, according to Law & Crime. The jury must reach a unanimous decision to recommend the death penalty. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer will then make a final decision.

If the jury's decision is not unanimous, Cruz would get life in prison.

Cruz pleaded guilty last fall to killing 17 people in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in February of 2018.

WATCH: Verdict to be Announced Soon

The jury will now read its verdict at approximately 10:30 a.m. ET Thursday.

This comes after more than 30 days of testimony from experts, surviving victims and family members of those killed during the shooting.

You can watch live on the Law & Crime Network or below:

Jury Reaches Verdict

After one day of deliberations, the jury has reached a verdict in the penalty trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz.

Jurors were excused just before 10:45 a.m. ET Wednesday and announced a verdict was reached by Thursday morning. The 12-person jury was tasked to decide whether Cruz will face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Cruz, now 24-years-old, pleaded guilty last fall to killing 17 people in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in February of 2018. The prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments on Tuesday, in the trial that started in mid-July.