A former sheriff's deputy accused of failing to guard college students throughout a 2018 mass taking pictures at a US college has been acquitted by a Florida jury. 

Gunman Nikolas Cruz killed 17 and wounded one other 17 when he opened hearth at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on 14 February, 2018.

Scot Peterson, the varsity useful resource officer on responsibility, had been charged with 11 counts of kid neglect, culpable negligence and perjury.

The 60-year-old put his head on the desk in entrance of him and sobbed with reduction because the choose learn aloud the "not guilty" verdict in courtroom in Fort Lauderdale in the present day.

The verdict spared him a jail sentence of 97 years.

After his acquittal, Peterson informed reporters that he wished to speak to the dad and mom of the scholars who have been killed, and that the victims ought to by no means be forgotten.

"If they need to really know the truth of what occurred...I'll be there for them," he stated.

"Only one person was to blame and it was that monster."

He additionally informed reporters, as he exited the courtroom along with his arm round his spouse: "I got my life back. We've got our life back."

Peterson was armed however by no means went inside whereas the taking pictures was underneath approach, based on the Broward County Sheriff's Office and surveillance video.

He is one in all few regulation enforcement officers ever prosecuted for failing to take motion or present care.

Peterson didn't testify in his trial, which lasted two and a half weeks.

A jury in October spared Nikolas Cruz from the loss of life penalty, as a substitute sentencing him to life in jail with out the potential of parole.

Content Source: information.sky.com