Shocking new surveillance video shows the moment accused school shooter Nikolas Cruz attacks an officer in his prison’s cafeteria — some nine months after the deadly shooting spree that left 17 dead.
Mr Cruz, who is charged with first-degree murder in the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is seen walking in circles in the Broward County Jail cafeteria, according to footage posted on YouTube by Law & Crime.
After several minutes Mr Cruz is seen speaking to the guard, identified as Sgt Raymond Beltran, who is sitting in the corner of the cafeteria.
The November 13, 2018 video has no audio, but the accused killer is seen giving the officer the finger before lunging at him and wrestling him to the ground while swinging at him.
Mr Beltran ultimately slugs Mr Cruz, who walks to the other side of the room and lays facedown on the ground after the guard pulls out a stun gun, the footage shows.
The video was played by prosecutors in court on Wednesday (local time) at Mr Cruz’s first in-person court appearance since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
In stark contrast to the video attack, Mr Cruz, shackled and in an orange jumpsuit, sat quietly throughout the 30-minute court appearance.
Defence lawyer David Wheeler told Circuit Judge Elizabeth Sherer that Mr Beltran had previously mistreated Mr Cruz and he was reacting to the abuse.
Prosecutor Maria Schneider asked the judge for complete medical records for Mr Cruz to determine if they back up claims of abuse by Mr Beltran.
Mr Wheeler countered that the records are largely confidential.
Ms Sherer is scheduled to rule on the request on Friday.
Mr Cruz, 22, faces a possible death sentence if convicted in the bloody shooting, among the deadliest in US history.
This article originally appeared in the New York Post and is republished here with permission
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