In another disturbing development, a new report shows that a Florida child services agency knew about Nikolas Cruz and even investigated him.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was tipped off about Cruz after he cut his arms on a Snapchat video and indicated that he planned to buy a gun, according to the Sun-Sentinel. The department even visited Cruz and questioned him before eventually determining that he was at a low risk of harming himself or others.
Its unclear how the investigation began, as the states report does not say who called in the tip, but the agents visited Cruz in November 2016a few months before his mother died. At that time, Cruz was undergoing mental health counseling. His mother told investigators that Cruzs depression was a result of a breakup with a girl who was cheating on him.
The new information is the latest in a string of reports showing that Cruz was in the eyes of law enforcement before he opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentines Day, leaving 17 people dead. The rifle that Cruz used in the massacre, a Smith & Wesson M&P 15, was legally purchased from a gun shop less than eight miles away from the high school.
A Broward County public defender who is representing Cruz was blunt in his assessment, saying, This kid exhibited every single known red flag, from cutting animals to having a cache of weapons to disruptive behavior to saying he wanted to be a school shooter. If this isnt a person who should have gotten someones attention, I dont know who is. This was a multi-system failure.
On Friday, the FBI admitted that they were tipped off about Cruz but that established protocols werent followed. Director Christopher Wray said he is committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public. But that wasnt enough for Florida Governor Rick Scott, who called on Wray to resign.
(Broward County Jail via AP)
Poster Comment:
The younger brother of deranged school shooter Nikolas Cruz was committed to a mental health facility, according to reports. Authorities removed someone Friday from the home of Rocxanne Deschamps, a longtime family friend of the Cruz brothers who took them in after their adoptive mother died of pneumonia in November, The Palm Beach Post reported.
A friend of Deschamps confirmed Zachary Cruz, who turns 18 next week, was the person removed from the home.
The younger Cruz brother was involuntarily committed under Floridas Baker Act, under which he can be held involuntarily for up to 12 hours for an involuntary psychiatric exam. Its unclear if hes been released.
Nikolas Cruz left Deschamps Lantana, FL mobile home around Thanksgiving after he and Deschamps squared off over a gun.
He bought a gun and wanted to bring it into my house, she said in comments that have since been wiped from her Facebook page, the paper reported.
Chad Bennett, a family friend, said Deschamps gave Cruz an ultimatum and Cruz chose the gun and he left. He moved in with family in northern Broward county, a Cruz family lawyer told the newspaper.
The Palm Beach Post said it was not known if the gun Cruz brought to the Deschamps home was the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle Cruz used to kill 17 people in Wednesdays mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.