Scot Peterson, ex-Parkland resource officer, found not guilty on all charges

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WPEC) — After four days of deliberation, the jury in the Scot Peterson trial found the ex-Parkland school resource officer not guilty.

On Thursday afternoon, the jury found Peterson not guilty on 11 counts, including seven felony counts of child neglect and three misdemeanor counts of culpable negligence. Peterson also faced a misdemeanor count of perjury. Peterson broke down in the courtroom once the decision was read.

Peterson embraced his attorney, Mark Eiglarsh in the courtroom in Fort Lauderdale.

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Peterson was accused of ignoring his training as 17 people, including 14 students, were killed in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018.

Following the verdict, Peterson and his attorney spoke outside the courtroom.

"We've got our life back after four and a half years," Peterson said. "It's been an emotional rollercoaster for so long."

Peterson continued stating the only person to blame for the massacre is Nikolas Cruz, the gunman who was sentenced to life in prison on Oct. 13, 2022.

"The only person to blame was that monster," Peterson emphasized. "It wasn't any law enforcement. Nobody on that scene from BSO [Broward Sheriff's Office] to Coral Springs, everybody did the best they could. We did the best we could with the information we had."

If Peterson had been convicted on all charges, he would have served a life sentence.