'Law Will Hopefully Save Other Families From Injustices We Have Suffered;' Parkland Parent

TAMPA, FL — With family members of victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting massacre applauding, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 450 Thursday that reduces the number of jurors needed to sentence someone convicted of a capital offense to death.

Rather than a supermajority of all 12 jurors, Florida's death sentence can now be handed down by eight of the 12 jurors.

The bill reducing the number of jurors needed to mete out the death penalty came after relatives of the 17 students and staff who died in the Parkland shooting on Feb. 14, 2018, spent from July 18 to Oct. 13 in court watching and testifying in the trial of the-19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who pleaded guilty to the shooting.

Family members expressed shock and disbelief when Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer upheld the jury's decision to give Cruz life in prison without parole on Nov. 2. Under Florida law, a judge cannot depart from the jury’s recommendation of life.

Although the jury unanimously agreed that Cruz was eligible for the death penalty, it was deadlocked on whether capital punishment should be imposed, with three of the jurors voting against the death penalty.

The new legislation eliminates the need for a unanimous agreement by the jury on the death penalty.

“Once a defendant in a capital case is found guilty by a unanimous jury, one juror should not be able to veto a capital sentence,” DeSantis said. “I’m proud to sign legislation that will prevent families from having to endure what the Parkland families have and ensure proper justice will be served in the state of Florida.”

Sponsored by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, and Florida Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, the bill was approved by the Florida House 29 to 10 and by the House 80 to 30.

“A few months ago, we endured another tragic failure of the justice system. Today’s change in Florida law will hopefully save other families from the injustices we have suffered,” said Ryan Petty, father of 14-year-old Alaina Petty, who was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “I’d like to thank Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for this important legislation.”

“Thank you, Gov. DeSantis, Sen. Ingoglia, and Rep. Jacques for enacting this legislation that changes the death penalty law,” said Hunter Pollack, brother of 18-year-old Meadow Pollack, another slain Parkland student. “While we cannot go back and change the past, we can ensure that no community will ever have to endure the injustice and pain that we did when the Parkland shooter did not receive the death penalty.”

Related:

• Parkland Families Still Waiting For Change 4 Years After Massacre
• 'You Are A Monster': Families Confront Parkland School Shooter
• Florida School Shooting: Sheriff Says 17 Dead

“This bill is about victims' rights, plain and simple. It allows the victims of heinous crimes a chance to get justice and have the perpetrators punished to the full extent of the law,” said Tony Montalto, father of 14-year-old Gina Montalto, also a Parkland victim.

The father called the jury's verdict a “gut punch” for the victims’ families on Oct. 13, saying, “the monster that killed them gets to live to see another day.”

Tom and Gena Hoyer, mother and father of Parkland victim Luke Hoyer, 15, were equally incensed when they learned Cruz would spend his life behind bars.

"It's been a bad day. I'm as stunned as I was the day Luke was killed," Tom Hoyer said on Oct. 13.

"I'm heartbroken, I'm stunned. I can't believe they gave a cold-blooded killer more mercy than the 17 victims he killed," said Gena Hoyer.

While they said they still feel a measure of anger, the signing of the bill Thursday also brought them a sense of relief.

“This bill will bring full accountability to the perpetrators of wicked crimes and help victims receive justice," said Tom Hoyer.

“The victims of the most evil crimes and their families deserve to see criminals punished to the full extent of the law,” said Ingoglia. “One rogue juror should not be the sole arbiter of justice. Thank you to the Parkland families, Gov. DeSantis and Rep. Jacques for ensuring this doesn’t happen again.”

“Florida will no longer allow a small handful of activist jurors to derail the full administration of justice when individuals are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and meet the qualifications for the death penalty,” added Jacques.