Attorney Calls For Zach Cruz's Release, Says Punishment Is Unconstitutional

Defense attorneys for Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz's brother, Zachary Cruz, are asking the Broward County court to release 18-year-old Zachary on the $25 bond previously posted after he was accused of trespassing at the school where his brother fatally shot 17 people. 

Cruz was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after his Monday arrest on a misdemeanor trespassing charge. Attorney Joseph Kimok filed the motion after a Broward judge issued an order preventing Zachary Cruz from possessing or buying weapons and raised the usual $25 bond to $500,000

"There is no justice where the government seeks to hang a man for the crimes of his brother," Kimok wrote. "lt is immoral and reprehensible to attempt to punish Zachary Cruz for the sins of Nicholas. It is also unconstitutional." 

The judge issued the order under the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which Gov. Rick Scott signed into law March 9. The new law empowers law enforcement agencies to take more preventive measures and prevents firearm dealers from selling firearms to buyers younger than 21 years of age.

Zachary Cruz was also ordered not to have contact with his brother, students or staff from MSDHS and to stay at least a mile away from the school. 

"Up until four months ago [Zachary Cruz] had led a relatively normal life. He went to school. He hung out with friends. He skateboarded. He spent time with the only family he knew -- his mother and brother," Kimok wrote. Then, in November,  his mother died, and in February his brother "committed an unspeakable crime," he wrote, adding that overnight "Zachary's entire life was put under a microscope."

Kimok said such an experience would be overwhelming  for anyone, and yet Zachary Cruz, who was also ordered to wear an ankle monitor, never hurt himself, anyone else or threatened anyone."He coped, as best he could," Kimok wrote. 

"Zachary Cruz did not bring any of this upon himself."  


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