Trial of Scot Peterson

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Peterson outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the 2018 shooting

Scot Peterson is an American former police officer who was involved in the events of the 2018 high school shooting incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Broward suburban town of Parkland, Florida. At the time of the shooting, he was a Broward County Sheriff's Office deputy sheriff.

In 2023, Peterson stood trial for multiple charges including felony child neglect and culpable negligence in relation to his inactivity during the school shooting. Before the trial, commentators had stated that a guilty verdict in his trial might have set a precedent for the legal status of policing in America. On June 29, 2023, Peterson was acquitted on all charges.[1]

Prior events[edit]

Main article: Parkland high school shooting

SRO Peterson, who was armed, on-site and in uniform[2] as a Broward Sheriff's Office deputy, was accused of remaining outside Building 12 during the shooting. Eight days after the attack, he was suspended without pay by Sheriff Israel, and he immediately retired. Sheriff Israel said "Scot Peterson was absolutely on campus for this entire event", and that he should have "gone in, addressed the killer, [and] killed the killer".[3][4][5]

A statement released by Peterson's lawyer before he was charged said that Peterson believed the shooting was happening outside the building. According to the lawyer, Peterson claimed he told this to the first Coral Springs police officer who arrived on scene. The statement also pointed to radio transmissions that indicated a gunshot victim near the football field.[6]

The Miami Herald transcribed radio dispatches that Peterson said at 2:23 during the shooting, "Be advised we have possible, could be firecrackers. I think we have shots fired, possible shots fired—1200 building." Seconds later, Peterson radioed: "We're talking about the 1200 building; it's going to be the building off Holmberg Road. Get the school locked down, gentlemen!" At 2:25, he radioed that "We also heard it's by—inside the 1200." At an unspecified time, Peterson called for police to ensure that "no one comes inside the school." At 2:27, at Building 12, he radioed, "Stay at least 500 feet away at this point." At an unspecified time, Peterson ordered: "Do not approach the 12– or 1300 building; stay at least 500 feet away."[7]

On March 15, the sheriff's office released video footage in compliance with a court order. The video was captured by school surveillance cameras and showed some of Peterson's movements during the shooting.[8]

Legal[edit]

In June 2019, following an investigation that included interviews with 184 witnesses, Peterson was arrested and then bonded out for the crime of failing to protect the students during the shooting.[9][10] In June 2023, Peterson was tried in court on multiple charges regarding the events related to the shooting. He faced 11 charges, including multiple counts of neglect of a child and culpable negligence, and one count of perjury.[9]

In 2019, Peterson had pleaded not guilty and filed a motion to have all charges dropped.[11][12] However, the motion was denied and jury selection started on May 31, 2023.[13][14][15] On June 29, 2023, after four days of deliberations, jurors acquitted Peterson on all counts.[16][17][18]

In July 2023, a judge approved for a re-enactment of the shooting inside the building as part of a civil lawsuit against Peterson. The re-enactment was going be recorded to be reviewed by the court and was planned to include the same type of weapons and ammo used, but with blanks instead of live ammunition.[19] However live ammunition ended up being used instead.[20]

Peterson's legal team requested that the lawsuit brought against him by the victims’ survivors and families be dismissed in December, 2023.[21] The judge took the arguments under advisement and indicated that she would issue a ruling soon. If the trial goes forward, it will begin in 2024.[21]

Response[edit]

Some commentators had previously stated that a guilty verdict in the trial might have set precedent for the legal status of policing in the United States by determining the legal interpretation of the term "caregiver" to include police officers under some circumstances.[22] Other commentators were skeptical about this theory.[23] In the end, this issue was never opened because of Peterson's acquittal.

Parents of victims of the shooting were disappointed with the decision of the jury that acquitted Peterson in June 2023 and of Peterson. Some called Peterson a "failure" and "the coward of Broward"[24] while others expressed their concern that he was acquitted and wondered what it would take for a person to be held accountable for their actions.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Parkland shooting verdict: School security officer Scot Peterson found not guilty in deadly attack". NBC News. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  2. ^ Chavez, Nicole (June 4, 2019). "This is what Scot Peterson did during the Parkland school shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  3. ^ Blinder, Alan; Mazzei, Patricia (February 22, 2018). "As Gunman Rampaged Through Florida School, Armed Deputy 'Never Went In'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  4. ^ Owen, Tess (February 22, 2018). "The armed school resource officer at Stoneman Douglas waited outside during the shooting". Vice News. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  5. ^ Tapper, Jake (February 23, 2018). "Sources: Coral Springs police upset at some Broward deputies for not entering school". CNN. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  6. ^ Ovalle, David (February 26, 2018). "I'm no coward, says deputy who didn't go inside Parkland school during massacre". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Ovalle, David; Rabin, Charles; Smiley, David; Teproff, Carli (April 17, 2018). "Disgraced Parkland deputy heard shots inside school building, told cops to stay away". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018.
  8. ^ Berman, Mark (March 15, 2018). "Broward Sheriff's Office releases video showing deputy standing outside Parkland school during massacre". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Burch, Audra D. S. (June 4, 2019). "Deputy Who Stayed Outside During Parkland School Shooting Faces Criminal Charges". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  10. ^ Hassan, Adeel (June 6, 2019). "Scot Peterson Is Released on Bond. Here's How He's Explained His Actions During the Parkland Shooting". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  11. ^ Viteri, Amy (July 22, 2019). "Scot Peterson pleads not guilty to felony charges related to Parkland school shooting". WPLG Local10. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  12. ^ Forney, Terrell (September 11, 2019). "Scot Peterson files petition to have charges dropped". WPLG Local10. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  13. ^ "Florida deputy faces trial for alleged failure to confront Parkland school shooter". May 30, 2023.
  14. ^ "Jury selection set to begin in trial of former Parkland BSO deputy Scot Peterson - CBS Miami". CBS News.
  15. ^ "Trial for Scot Peterson Set to Begin. Here's What to Know About the Former Resource Deputy". May 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Andone, Dakin; Royal, Denise; Suarez, Carlos (2023-06-29). "Jury deliberations push into 4th day over ex-Parkland school resource officer's fate in a rare trial over police conduct in a mass shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  17. ^ Andone, Dakin; Royal, Denise; Suarez, Carlos (2023-06-29). "Parkland school resource officer who stayed outside during mass shooting found not guilty". CNN. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  18. ^ "Parkland shooting verdict: School security officer Scot Peterson found not guilty in deadly attack". NBC News. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  19. ^ Hornstein, Teri (2023-07-12). "Judge approves re-enactment of Parkland school shooting for Scot Peterson civil trial - CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  20. ^ Royal, Alaa Elassar,Holly Yan,Denise (2023-08-04). "Parkland school shooting is reenacted with live gunfire after lawmakers tour the gruesome scene where 17 people were massacred". CNN. Retrieved 2024-01-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ a b Spencer, Terry. "Florida deputy's legal team says he didn't have an obligation to stop Parkland school shooter". msn.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Scot Peterson did not confront the Parkland school shooting. Should he be jailed?". BBC News. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  23. ^ "Ex-Parkland officer's inaction was 'disgraceful' but not likely criminal, experts say". NBC News. 2019-06-05. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  24. ^ "Ex-Florida officer charged with failing to confront Parkland shooter says he is 'looking forward' to his trial". NBCnews.com. NBC News. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  25. ^ "'He should be haunted': Parkland parents express frustration over Scot Peterson acquittal". NBC 6 South Florida. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
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