Parkland Shooter Nikolas Cruz Addresses Victims’ Families After Guilty Plea: ‘I Am Very Sorry for What I Did’

The man who killed 17 people and injured 17 others in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., pleaded guilty on Wednesday to what was the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history.

Nikolas Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.

“I am very sorry for what I did, and I have to live with it every day. And that if I were to get a second chance, I would do everything in my power to help others,” said Cruz, in a clip played on CNN Newsroom. “And I am doing this for you and I do not care if you do not believe me and I love you. And I know you don’t, believe me. But I have to live with this every day.”

Parts of Cruz’s apology, which CNN did not air, included him saying “…it brings me nightmares and I cannot live with myself some times but I try to push through because I know that’s what you guys would want me to do.”

“I hate drugs, and I believe this country would do better if everybody would stop smoking marijuana and doing all these drugs and causing racism and violence out in the streets,” he continued. “I hope you give me a chance to try to help others, I believe it’s your decision to decide where I go and whether I live or die, not the jury’s decision I believe it’s your decision. I’m sorry.”

Cruz will now face a jury that will decide not whether he is guilty or innocent, rather whether he should serve life in prison, which Cruz’s lawyers are seeking, or get the death penalty, which prosecutors are seeking.

Watch above, via CNN.