Prosecutor: Deputy fled during Parkland school massacre, putting own life ahead of students’

By TERRY SPENCER
Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A jury will soon decide the fate of a Florida sheriff’s deputy accused of failing to protect students during the 2018 Parkland school massacre. Prosecutors and defense attorneys gave their closing arguments Monday in the trial of former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson. Prosecutors said Peterson fled to safety rather than go into the building where the 17 victims were murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Peterson’s attorney said he couldn’t pinpoint the shooter’s location because of the gunshots’ echoes. Peterson is charged with child neglect and other counts. He is the first U.S. law enforcement ever charged with failing to act during a school shooting.