FL v. Scot R. Peterson: Parkland School Cop Trial
UPDATE: A Florida jury found Scot Peterson, the school resource officer accused of not confronting Nikolas Cruz, not guilty on all counts.
www.courttv.com
DAY 8 – 6/21/23
- Judge Martin Fein narrowly denied the defense’s motion for a judgment of acquittal on all counts after expressing doubt towards the strength of the evidence showing that Scot Peterson caused the vicitms’ injuries — an element of the charge of child neglect.
- The defense’s case began in earnest with testimony from MSD students and staff who, like Peterson, said that they initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks and could not tell where the loud pops were coming from.
- Peterson’s supervisor, BSO Sgt. Ryan Miller, said he thought he heard the gunshots coming from the football field, a belief that was affirmed by BSO Dep. Michael Kratz’s (erroneous) radio call that the shots were fired by the football field.
- Miller said that Peterson was “distraught” when Miller saw him the next day and thanked him for his efforts.
- Det. John Curcio — the lead detective on the shooting investigation — teared up while describing the goal in an active shooting: “stop [the shooter] from killing people… slowing him down… anything to help kids find safety.”
- Curcio testified about statements Peterson made to him in an interview that led to Peterson being charged with perjury:
- He only heard 2-3 shots, while surveillance video shows Peterson outside the 1200 building for more than four minutes while approximately 70 rounds were fired on the second and third floors.
- He didn’t see anyone leaving the 1200 building before police went in to lead the students out. Multiple witnesses have testified to seeing Peterson outside the building but the timing is not clear.
