Brother Of Accused School Shooter Released From Jail

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The younger brother of accused Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz was released from a Broward County jail on Thursday after promising not to set foot on the campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Zachary Cruz was arrested on March 19 after showing up on the school grounds not far from where Nikolas Cruz is accused of killing 17 students and faculty members during a murderous Valentine's Day rampage. The younger Cruz was riding his skateboard on the campus at the time.

According to the Broward County State Attorney's Office, Zachary Cruz was also given six months probation with credit for the 10 days he spent in jail. He was not permitted to have firearms or ammunition during the probation and he was not to travel to any other school unless he is enrolled there. He must stay at least one mile away from Stoneman Douglas.

Cruz was also ordered not to have any contact with victims or their families of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting. He must wear a GPS monitoring device and undergo a mental evaluation.

The 18-year-old's bail was hiked from a mere $25 to $500,000 during his initial appearance before a Broward judge on the trespassing charge earlier in March.

In setting the bail "based on the totality of the circumstances," Judge Kim Theresa Mollica noted that Zachary Cruz was the brother of the accused gunman.

The younger Cruz' attorney called the judge's decision to impose a $500,000 bond on his client as "immoral and unconstitutional."

Some parents kept their children out of school after learning about the skateboarding incident, according to the Broward County State Attorney's Office.

Photo of Zachary Cruz courtesy Broward Sheriff's Office