The owner of a gun shop recalled how he refused to sell a firearm to a teenager who would go on to become a school shooter.
Nikolas Cruz murdered 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14 2018, in a massacre which is among the deadliest school shootings in the US.
Just a few months before the shooting, Cruz had attempted to purchase an AR-15 assault rifle from Coconut Creek Pawn & Guns store.
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The owner of the store, who only identified himself as Razi, later told ABC affiliate WPLG that he had refused service to Cruz when he had come in.
Describing Cruz, Razi said: “He was cool. He was quiet. He was not nervous at all.”
He continued: “I asked him the first question I ask everybody: ‘How old are you?’
“He said, ‘Oh, I’m over 18,’ and I said ‘Are you under 21,’ and he said ‘Yes,’ and I said ‘I don’t sell any firearms to anyone under the age of 21.'”
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Cruz challenged Razi on this, as it was legal to sell guns to anyone over 18, but Razi stuck to the store policy of not selling to anyone under 21.
He recalled: “I said, ‘I don’t need an 18-year-old to buy a weapon and clear out his high school with it — not if I have anything to do with it.
“I tell it to every kid who comes here to buy weapons.”
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Months later, when Cruz massacred 17 people Razi was horrified when he realised that this was the same young man who had attempted to buy a weapon from him.
He had the shock revelation when he was interviewed by authorities after the massacre.
He said: “When I saw the picture I said, ‘Yep, he was in my store.’
“I had chills coming down my spine. I said ‘thank god I didn’t sell this monster any weapon.’”
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When he went online, Razi found a one star review on the store's page, which was left by none other than Nikolas Cruz.
Cruz had been unimpressed with his experience, writing: "Very judgemental and denied me customer service."
A response from the owner says simply: "Store policy no sales of firearms under the age of 21."
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Tragically, Cruz was later able to obtain an AR-15 from the Sunrise Tactical Supply Shop in Coral Springs.
Cruz killed 17 people in around six minutes during the shooting.
He escaped the school by blending in with fleeing students before being arrested later.
Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Cruz but this was not granted due to a non unanimous jury, instead being a life sentence.
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This rule was subsequently relaxed in Florida, with juries now only requiring an 8-4 majority in favour to execute someone.
Kit Roberts