Parkland Shooter Agrees to Brain Donation
Nikolas Cruz, responsible for the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has agreed to donate his brain to science as part of a unique civil settlement with one of his victims. Cruz, who killed 17 students and staff using an AR-15 assault rifle, has entered an unprecedented agreement, according to court documents and experts.
A novel condition proposed by victim’s lawyer
The unusual condition was suggested by Alex Arreaza, an attorney for Anthony Borges, 21, who survived the attack despite being shot five times. “I figured if scientists studied his brain, they might be able to figure out what created this monster,” Arreaza told Fox News Digital. “Maybe there was some kind of imbalance that caused this that we can prevent in the future.”
Scott Herndon, an attorney based in Berkeley who has represented mass shooting victims, acknowledged the novelty of the settlement. “I’ve never heard of anything like this before. It’s pretty unique,” he said. “It underscores the feeling of those left behind that whatever can be done to avoid these massacres in the future should be done.”
Additional terms of the settlement
The settlement also grants Borges the right to use Cruz’s name in various media formats, including movies and books. Cruz, now 25 and serving a life sentence, is barred from profiting from his crime and must obtain Borges’ permission before participating in any interviews. “We didn’t want him to be able to continue torturing the families,” Arreaza explained, citing the case of O.J. Simpson’s controversial book “If I Did It.”
The settlement process
The agreement was finalized during a Zoom meeting with Borges’ father, Rory Borges, Cruz, and Arreaza. Anthony Borges, who suffers from PTSD, chose not to participate. Arreaza described Cruz’s apology as “very cold and weird,” comparing it to a minor car accident apology. At 15, Borges used his body to barricade a door, preventing Cruz from entering a classroom, and saving the lives of his classmates. He sustained severe injuries requiring over a dozen surgeries.
The settlement also allocates $430,000 to Borges, expected from Cruz’s relative’s life insurance policy. Previously, the Broward County Public School District paid $26 million to the shooting victims, with $1.25 million awarded to Borges. He also received an undisclosed settlement from the FBI for failing to prevent the attack.
Borges and other victims have pending lawsuits against School Resource Officer Scot Peterson and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
Ongoing trauma and hope for healing
The shooting continues to haunt Borges, who is relieved that the site of the massacre is being demolished. “Every time he drove by there, it brought back memories,” Arreaza told the media outlet.
This settlement represents a rare and innovative approach to addressing the aftermath of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, with the hope that it might contribute to preventing future tragedies.