Florida mass shooter, Nikolas Cruz, has agreed to donate his brain to science as part of a “unique” civil settlement with one of his victims, as per court documents and experts. Cruz was arrested for killing 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on February 14, 2018, one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history. He used an AR-15 assault rifle for the crime.
The condition was proposed by attorney representing 21-year-old Anthony Borges, who was shot five times during the attack, as reported by New York Times.
Alex Arreaza, Borges’ lawyer told Fox News Digital that, may be scientists studied his brain that they might be able to figure out created this “monster”. He said there might have been some sort of imbalance that has caused the crime, and the study may help to prevent in the future.
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A Berkeley-based attorney, Scott Herndon, who has represented victims of mass shootings, described the settlement as unprecedented.
“I’ve never heard of anything like this before. It’s pretty unique. It underscores the feeling of those left behind that whatever can be done to avoid these massacres in the future should be done”, he told Fox News Digital.
Reportedly, the new settlement agreement also grants Borges the right to use Cruz’s name in movies, books, and other media. The 25-year-old convict, who is currently serving a life sentence, is prohibited from profiting from his crime and must obtain Borges’ permission before participating in any interviews.
Herndon said it is not unusual for a perpetrator to give up the rights to their name as part of a settlement. The agreement was finalized during a Zoom meeting involving Borges’ father, Rory Borges, Cruz, and Arreaza. Anthony Borges, who is dealing with PTSD, did not feel comfortable participating in the discussions, said Arreaza.
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“You could see what a psychopath he is. He looked at Rory when we were all done and asked if he could apologize, and Nikolas apologized to him like they had been in a car accident together. It was just very cold and weird”, Arreaza noted.
The 15-year-old Borges was among the 17 victims who narrowly survived the brutal attack. He used his body to barricade a door, preventing Cruz from entering the classroom where he and other terrified students were hiding.
Borges, a former promising soccer player sustained severe injuries to his legs and torso, requiring over a dozen surgeries.
The new settlement also allocates $430,000 to Anthony Borges, which Cruz is expected to receive from a relative’s life insurance policy. The Broward County Public School District paid $26 million to the victims of the shooting, with $1.25 million going to Borges. Additionally, Borges received an undisclosed settlement from the FBI for their failure to prevent Cruz’s rampage.