The younger brother of school shooter Nikolas Cruz told Florida police that he has regrets about bullying his sibling and wishes he could have prevented the Parkland school massacre, which left 14 students and three staff members dead.
In a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s report, obtained by CNN, Zachary Cruz told investigators from Palm Beach and Broward counties that he wishes he would have been nicer to his brother when they were younger.
Zachary, who recently turned 18, said he regrets bullying Nikolas with his friends, a sheriff wrote in the report.
Zachary Cruz (right) told police in Florida that he had regrets about bullying his brother, Nikolas Cruz (left)
Zachary (left) also told authorities that he felt guilty Nikolas (right) opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and wishes he could have prevented it
Nikolas used an AK-47 to shoot at teachers and students at the Florida school. The massacre is said to be the second-deadliest shooting at a public school in the US
The teen also said he felt guilty that his brother had opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14 and wishes he could have stopped the attack.
The sheriff noted that Zachary said he resented his sibling because he thought Nikolas was the favored one between them.
Zachary and Nikolas, who are half-siblings, were adopted when they were younger by Lynda and Robert Cruz.
Robert died in 2004 from a heart attack, and Lynda died in November from the flu.
It seems Nikolas’ life took a downward spiral following the death of his adoptive mother.
The Parkland school shooting happened three months after Nikolas’ adoptive mom Lynda died. She’s pictured above holding Nikolas as a baby
14 students and three staff members were killed in the February 14 attack
Nikolas is facing 17 premeditated murder charges after confessing to the shooting. He’s being held in a Broward County jail
Family friend Roxanne Deschamps took in Nikolas and Zachary after Lynda died, but kicked Nikolas out of her home following a violent altercation in November. In a 911 call, Deschamps told police that Nikolas became angry when she took away his guns and hit her son in the face.
Nikolas fled the home and Deschamps told the dispatcher she was worried what would happen if Nikolas returned.
The 19-year-old also called 911 to report the incident apologizing to police saying that his mother had just died and he ‘was dealing with a bunch of things right now’.
It was also revealed that Lynda had called police 23 times over a 10-year period to report that Nikolas had been physical with Zachary and with her. The Sun Sentinel described Nikolas’ relationship with his brother as tumultuous.
Nikolas is currently being held in the Broward County jail on 17 premeditated murder charges after confessing to shooting his former classmates and teachers.