Cellphone footage has been released that shows Nickolas Cruz in the hours before he opened fire on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The disturbing videos give insight into a deranged individual who excitedly plotted the massacre and looked forward to the fame and notoriety it would bring him.
"Hello, my name is Nik, and
I'm going to be the next school shooter of 2018. My goal is at least 20 people with an AR-15 and a couple tracer rounds," Cruz said as he filmed himself before carrying out a shooting that killed 17 people.
"The location is Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida. It's gonna be a big event, and when you see me on the news, you'll know who I am," Cruz said. He then chuckled and said in a high-pitched tone,
"You're all going to die! Pew pew pew pew pew. Ah yeah. Can't wait."
In the next video, Cruz is wearing what appears to be a bright orange shirt, khaki shorts, black tennis shoes, and a black cast on his arm. With the camera aimed at the ground, he can be heard saying, "Today is the day. The day that it all begins. The day of my massacre shall begin.
All the kids in school will run in fear and hide. From the wrath of my power, they will know who I am."
"I am nothing. I am no one. My life is nothing and meaningless. Everything I hold dear I let go," Cruz said in a monotone voice. In addition to a
troubled past that included dozens of incidents in school and numerous reports to the police, Cruz was also reportedly
taking antidepressants for depression and emotional issues.
Comment: Cruz obviously has emotional issues - a lot of them. Shallow affect, immaturity, superficial theatricality. Cruz lives life like it's a video game, because he lacks the ability to see other people as actual people. He only thinks of himself, sees himself as a victim, and resents other people for being normal.