Nikolas Jacob Cruz

The Parkland High School Shooter

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Information on Nik

Birthday: September 24th, 1998

Height: 5'7

Eye Color: Hazel

Hair Color: Light Brown

Political Party: Republican

Previous Occupation: Dollar Tree Cashier

Dominant Hand: Left

Diagnoses: Antisocial Personality Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder

Birth Mother: Brenda Woodard

Adopted Parents: Roger and Lynda Cruz

Siblings: Zachary Cruz & Danielle Woodard (Half Siblings on Father's side)


His Likes

Color: Army Green

Animal: Penguins

Sports: Hunting, Fishing, Boxing

Musicians: Mac De Marco, Eminem, Nirvana, Foster The People, Twenty One Pilots, Cuco, Skrillex, Louis Armstrong, Lana Del Ray, Bruno Mars, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, MGMT, And One, Elvis Presley

About the Crime

Date: Febuary 14th, 2018

Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Death Toll: 17

People Injured: 17

14 students & 3 staff members killed

Weapon Used: Smith & Wesson MP15 Sport II semi-automatic rifle

Age at the time: 19

Motives: Attempt to ruin Valentine's Day, Misanthropy, Revenge for 'percieved' social rejection

He commited the crime on Valentine's Day because he believed no one loved him.


The Aftermath

He was caught by police approximately one hour and 20 minutes after the crime took place.

Blended in with students, fled the scene on foot.

Convicted of 17 counts of premeditated first degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first degree murder.

He pled guilty in 2021 to all counts. He also expressed remorse to the victim's family in court.

Sentanced to 34 life sentences without the possiblity of parole.



Assorted facts about Nikolas

• Nikolas was put for adoption at birth by his biological mother, Brenda Woodard.

• His biological mother smoked, drank and did explicit drugs while pregnant with Nikolas, resulting in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

• Nik develeped lactating nipples due to anti-psychotic medications he recieved in prison.

• He also attacked a guard in prison, almost taking his tazor before being taken down.

• There was also an extra 26 years added to his sentence as a result of his attack of the prison guard.

• His IQ was originally believed to be 82 but currently, experts believe it's somewhere between 92 - 101.

• Nikolas posted actively online before the shooting about guns, violence, and expressed desire to harm others.

• He expressed extremely hateful (racist, antisemetic, xenophobic, & homophobic) opinions online, despite his adopted brother claiming Nik wasn't racist.

• Nik's adopted mother called the police on him often when he was younger, seemingly to 'talk some sense into him'.

• Nine out of twelve jurors recommended the death penalty in Nik's case.

• He listened to 'Salad Days' by Mac De Marco during the shooting.