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) — Jury selection in the trial of an ex-sheriff’s deputy charged with failing to confront the Parkland, Florida, school shooter has gotten off to a speedy start. Prosecutors and the attorney representing former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson began choosing a jury Wednesday, concluding the preliminary phase in just one day. That is two days shorter than expected. Some 55 finalists will be brought back Monday for the final selection. Prosecutors 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. Seventeen were killed in the Valentine’s Day shooting.