On the one month anniversary of the tragic Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, the 19-year-old charged with killing 17 students and staff appeared in a Broward County courtroom.
Nikolas Cruz, who used to attend the high school he opened fire in, was arraigned on charges of first degree attempted murder for the 17 people who were injured in the shooting.
Cruz was indicted last week on all charges – including 17 counts of premeditated first degree murder – by a grand jury and was arraigned on the murder charges. He had previously waived his right to appear at court hearings, but appeared Wednesday.
The latest court hearing comes one day after prosecutors in the case announced they will seek the death penalty against Cruz. Cruz's attorneys have said he would plead guilty if the death penalty was not pursued.
On Wednesday, Cruz's attorneys entered a plea of not guilty.
The office of Broward County State Attorney Michael Satz filed the formal notice of its intentions Tuesday. The action by prosecutors Tuesday, nor the not guilty plea that was entered, does not necessarily mean a plea deal will not be reached.
The only other penalty option for Cruz is life in prison with no possibility of parole.