Parkland shooter gets multiple life sentences without parole for 2018 massacre

Fort Lauderdale, Florida - After four long years, the trial against the gunman who killed several people at a high school has finally come to an end.

The gunman who killed 17 people at a Florida high school in 2018, was given 34 life prison sentences on Wednesday.
The gunman who killed 17 people at a Florida high school in 2018, was given 34 life prison sentences on Wednesday.  © Amy Beth Bennett / POOL / AFP

On Wednesday, the 24-year-old murderer was sentenced by Judge Elizabeth A. Scherer to 34 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

In February 2018, he entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and opened fire, killing 14 students and three staff members, also wounding 17 others. The incident is considered one of the deadliest school shootings in the country's history.

During the final day of the trial, the killer remained emotionless as family members of his victims were given the chance to address him directly for the first time.

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"You robbed Alyssa [of] a lifetime of memories," said Lori Alhadeff, mother of 14-year-old victim Alyssa Alhadeff. "Alyssa will never graduate from high school. Alyssa will never go to college, and Alyssa will never play soccer. She will never get married, and she will never have a baby."

"My hope for you is that you are miserable for the rest of your pathetic life," she added.

The mother of Scott Beigel, a geography teacher killed in the shooting, held up a photo collage of all the victims.

"These are the names and faces I want you to remember," she said, "who I will honor, cherish and love for every day of the rest of my life."

Some Parkland families disappointed with sentence

Prosecutors had been fighting for the death penalty, but a jury instead voted last month for a sentence of life in prison, much to the dismay of some of the relatives.

"It is heartbreaking how any person who heard and saw all this did not give this killer the worst punishment possible," said Annika Dworet, mother of 17-year-old victim Nicholas Dworet.

"How much worse would the crime have to be to warrant the death penalty?" she added.

Cover photo: Amy Beth Bennett / POOL / AFP

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