A judge has set the bond for admitted Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz's brother, Zacahry Cruz, at $500,000 after the teen allegedly skateboarded onto the property of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Monday.
Eighteen-year-old Zachary Cruz faces a charge of trespassing. Authorities say they had previously told him to avoid the campus.
Upon trespassing, Zachary allegedly told deputies that he went to the campus to "reflect on the school shooting and soak it in."
Cruz was originally taken into custody on a $25 bond. He paid off that bond, but was being held in lieu of Tuesday afternoon's hearing. You can watch that hearing here:
Defense representatives argued the prosecution wants to punish Zachary Cruz "for who he's related to" by asking for $750K bond, instead of $25 trespassing bond.
The judge favored the prosecution, ordering a:
- $500,000 bond
- Ankle monitor with GPS (upon release)
- Must stay 1 mile away from Stoneman Douglas (once released)
- No contact with brother Nikolas, direct or indirect
- Lake Worth home to be searched for weapons
- Must undergo psychological evaluation
- Must not enter Broward County (once released)
Zachary's brother, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, opened fire inside the Parkland high school on Feb. 14, killing 17 people and wounding more than a dozen others. He is currently being held at the Broward County jail in Fort Lauderdale, awaiting trial. Zachary Cruz cried when his brother appeared in court.
After the shooting, people close to Zachary Cruz said he wanted to harm himself, and he underwent a mental health evaluation. Zachary Cruz has denied that he wanted to harm himself.
The Cruz brothers, who share the same mother, were adopted as babies by Lynda and Roger Cruz.