Florida grand jury indicts Nikolas Cruz on 17 counts of murder in high-school shooting

South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Mike Stocker via Associated Press

Nikolas Cruz appears in court for a status hearing before Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Monday, Feb. 19, 2018.

• Accused Florida shooter Nikolas Cruz was indicted on 17 counts of first-degree murder by a grand jury on Wednesday.
• Cruz has confessed to authorities and offered to plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to seek the death penalty.

A grand jury in Florida on Wednesday formally indicted alleged high-school shooter Nikolas Cruz on 17 counts of premeditated first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Cruz has been accused of killing 17 students and staff members when he opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland on February 14.

Cruz has confessed to the shooting, local authorities said.

Cruz could face the death penalty if convicted of the 17 first-degree murder counts, though Cruz's public defenders have offered a deal for Cruz to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence.

Prosecutors haven't yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.