Brother of Parkland shooter arrested in Virginia for allegedly trespassing at three schools
The brother of Parkland gunman Nikolas Cruz was arrested last week for allegedly trespassing at three Virginia schools, authorities said.
Zachary Cruz, 24, was first spotted on Jan. 25 at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Complex in Fishersville, according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office. This led to an investigation involving the sheriff’s office, the Woodrow Wilson Police Department, and the Virginia State Police.
During the investigation, officials reviewed surveillance footage from Augusta County Public Schools, which showed Cruz entering the properties of Wilson Middle School, Wilson Memorial High School, and the Valley Career and Technical Center on Jan. 25.
“The footage shows Mr. Cruz approaching exterior doors, attempting to open them, and peering inside, indicating efforts to gain unauthorized access,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Cruz was arrested on Feb. 4 and charged with three misdemeanor counts of trespassing.
The day after his arrest, the sheriff’s office addressed a video live-streamed on social media by Cruz’s attorney. Authorities clarified that the video did not depict Cruz at any county school property. At the time it was recorded, Cruz was in custody at Middle River Regional Jail.
He was released on Feb. 6.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the school district for comment.
In 2018, Cruz was arrested for allegedly trespassing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where his brother carried out one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history, killing 17 people—14 students and three staff members. His brother was sentenced to life in prison in 2022.
