Court Hears of Cruz’s Obsession with Death and Assassination During Civil War Lesson in Middle School
Disturbing new details have emerged about Nikolas Cruz’s behaviour during his time in middle school, as evidence was presented during his sentencing trial. In one incident from September 2013, Cruz, then in eighth grade, became fixated on death and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln during a lesson on the American Civil War. According to a behavioural assessment submitted in court, Cruz asked chilling questions such as, “Was there blood everywhere? What did it sound like when Lincoln was shot? Did people eat the bodies after the war?” His fixation on death and violence was documented in several other incidents, revealing an unsettling interest in firearms and violent acts.
In another case, Cruz drew disturbing images on his vocabulary worksheet in September 2013, depicting people being shot and nude stick figures. His obsession with guns was also evident, as he frequently talked about firearms, even during class activities. On one occasion in October 2013, Cruz read aloud the ending of a book in order to spoil it, later stating his preference for guns over the book.
Despite such behaviour, Cruz appeared to be compliant during his counselling sessions, where he did not display his violent tendencies. However, it was revealed that Cruz made comments in 2013 suggesting a desire to be remembered for something significant, echoing statements made in a video filmed just days before the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. In the video, Cruz ominously stated, “You’re all going to die. I can’t wait,” revealing his growing notoriety and desire to be remembered.
The court also heard from Cruz’s former school counsellor, Jessica Clark Flournoy, who confirmed that Cruz behaved well in her sessions, but she was unaware of his obsession with guns. Nonetheless, the prosecution argued that Cruz’s actions were intentional and that he sought to be moved to a different school by deliberately misbehaving.
Cruz’s behaviour was deemed concerning enough to warrant a transfer from his previous school, West Glades Middle, to a school specialising in special education in February 2014. A few years later, he enrolled at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where, in February 2018, he carried out a mass shooting, killing 17 students and staff members.
Cruz has since pleaded guilty to the charges and the jury must now decide whether he will be sentenced to life in prison without parole or face the death penalty. The trial has already seen emotional testimony from victims’ families and details of the brutal attack, with the defence presenting arguments related to Cruz’s troubled upbringing and mental health.
