Fast start to jury selection at trial of ex-deputy accused of failing to confront Parkland shooter

By TERRY SPENCER
Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The trial of an ex-sheriff’s deputy charged with failing to confront the Parkland, Florida, school shooter is underway. Prosecutors and the attorney representing former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson began choosing a jury Wednesday, nearing the conclusion of a preliminary round in a few hours. The prosecution says Peterson committed child neglect when he failed to enter a classroom building at Marjory Stoneman High School in February 2018 and confront shooter Nikolas Cruz. Peterson says he didn’t know where the shots were coming from. His attorney says he had no legal obligation to enter the building. Fourteen students and three staff members were killed in the Valentine’s Day shooting.