parkland shooting deputy

Scot Peterson, a former school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is set to stand trial on Thursday, June 29, 2023, for his role in the 2018 mass shooting that claimed the lives of 17 people. Peterson was charged with 11 counts, including child neglect, culpable negligence, and perjury, for allegedly failing to act during the shooting.

According to prosecutors, Peterson, who was the only armed deputy on campus at the time of the shooting, failed to enter the school building and confront the gunman, instead taking cover outside the building. This inaction, they argue, allowed the shooter to continue his rampage unchecked and resulted in needless deaths.

Peterson’s defense team, however, has argued that he did not have a clear view of the shooter’s location and believed the gunfire was coming from outside the building. They also contend that Peterson was not trained to confront an active shooter and was following protocol in waiting for backup to arrive.

The trial, which is expected to last several weeks, will feature testimony from survivors of the shooting, as well as law enforcement officials and experts on school safety and active shooter response. If convicted, Peterson could face up to life in prison.

The Parkland shooting, which occurred on February 14, 2018, sparked a national conversation about gun control and school safety. In the aftermath of the shooting, many students and parents called for stricter gun laws and increased funding for school security measures. The trial of Scot Peterson will likely continue to bring attention to these issues and raise questions about the role of school resource officers in preventing school shootings.