Accused Florida School Shooter Remains In Jail Without Bond

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Accused Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz appeared briefly before a Broward County judge on Friday, who ordered that he remain in jail without bond. The troubled 19-year-old was arrested hours after the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in which he is accused of killing 17 students and faculty members in a murderous rampage with his AR-15 assault rifle that he purchased legally.

The case has reignited a national debate on gun control and inspired a number of teenage survivors from the school to take up the issue in their state legislature and in Washington, D.C.

"Mr. Cruz, I've reviewed the grand jury indictment and other documents in your case and I find probable cause," Judge Kim Theresa Mollica told him on Friday. "I further find the proof of guilt to be evident or the presumption great. Therefore you are going to be held without bond until further order of the court."

Cruz was formally indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday for 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.

The judge also told Cruz on Friday that he may request a hearing to set bond with the assigned division judge. Cruz kept his head bowed and said nothing as he stood next to his attorney during the arraignment.

His attorney filed court papers on Thursday saying that Cruz was withdrawing a preliminary not-guilty plea and will enter no plea at all. Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill said in the filing that Cruz "stands mute" before the court. She said the not-guilty plea was entered prematurely, before the grand jury formally indicted Cruz on Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo courtesy Broward County Sheriff's Office