The Florida deputy who failed to confront the gunman during the mass shooting on Feb. 14 claims he is not a coward.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel revealed around a week after the shooting that Scot Peterson, the armed school resource officer, stood outside while Nikolas Cruz was shooting teachers and students.
Cruz ultimately killed 17 and wounded 16 in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Israel suspended Peterson after seeing video footage of Peterson’s response, hearing witness accounts, and getting a statement from Peterson.
Shortly after being suspended, Peterson resigned.
But Peterson said in a new statement through his lawyer that he was just following procedure.
“However, the allegations that Mr. Peterson was a coward and that his performance, under the circumstances, failed to meet the standards of police officers are patently untrue. Mr. Peterson is confident that his actions on that day were appropriate under the circumstances and that the video (together with the eye-witness testimony of those on the scene) will exonerate him of any sub-par performance.”
President Donald Trump addressed the situation on Monday, saying that Peterson likely chose not to enter the school.
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