FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Former Broward Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson, the school resource officer accused of failing the children in his care by running from the building instead of confronting the Parkland mass shooter in 2018, was found not guilty on all charges Thursday.
After the first not guilty verdict was read, Peterson placed his head on the table and sobbed while being consoled by his attorney Mark Eiglarsh. Peterson’s wife, Lydia Rodriguez, also wept in the courtroom gallery.
“I got my life back after 4 1/2 years,” a relieved Peterson said outside the courtroom. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster for so long.”
