MSD Victims' Families Want Renewed Investigation Into Scot Peterson

Several families of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victims are calling for a renewed investigation of Broward Sheriff's Office Deputy Scot Peterson, the school resource officer who stood outside of the building as shots rang out inside. 

Families want officers to look into a a case that Peterson allegedly handled four years to the day prior to the massacre. 

Police Officer Who Didn't Enter School During Shooting Resigns - Thumbnail Image

Police Officer Who Didn't Enter School During Shooting Resigns

According to reports, the case involved two 17-year-old students bullying a 14-year-old freshman, with one holding down the younger boy by his ankles while the other kicked the victim, grabbed his genitals and then took the victim's own baseball bat and began shoving it against his buttocks, simulating rape, through the boy's clothes. 

One of the boys who allegedly held down the victim was Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel's son, Brett. 

Defense attorney Alex Arreaza, who represents MSD shooting victim Anthony Borges, said the case could have led to felony charges. 

Peterson claims in a past report report that it was a "simple battery" under the board's discipline matrix, and he decided to give both of the boy's attackers a three-day suspension. 

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie was gunned down in the February shooting, said the facts of the incident "infuriated" him. 

"Scot Peterson failed to do his job again," he said, according to a report by Local 10. "It's just another example of a bad crime and somebody not being held accountable. It's kind of interesting the intersection of the same people." 

For  Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was also killed in the MSD shooting, the case appears to be another incident of undue leniency for students accused of crimes, much of it stemming from the controversial PROMISE program designed to keep minors out of jail. The school shooter, Nikolas Cruz, never faced any charges despite numerous incidents inside and outside of school, including one that led to a referral to the PROMISE program, with which Superintendent Robert Runcie claimed Cruz had never been associated. That according to a report by Local 10.

Pollack also said he believed Peterson's handling of the incident may have provided Peterson job security at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

From the past incident, Peterson noted in a report that the victim's parents were notified of the discipline and "did not request additional law enforcement action." 

The mother of the victim confirmed this, saying the family members only wanted to put the matter behind them and had made peace with the sheriff and his son.

Still, parents of MSD victims want a fresh look at this investigation. "I don't care if it was four days ago or four years ago," Guttenberg said. "If people didn't do their job and they failed in their responsibilities, it should be investigated."


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content