Trial of Scot Peterson

In 2023, Peterson stood trial for multiple charges including felony child neglect and culpable negligence in relation to his inactivity during the school shooting.

[1] SRO Peterson, who was armed, on-site and in uniform[2] as a Broward Sheriff's Office deputy, was accused of remaining outside Building 12 during the shooting.

[8] In June 2019, following an investigation that included interviews with 184 witnesses, Peterson was arrested and then bonded out for the crime of failing to protect the students during the shooting.

[16][17][18] In July 2023, a judge approved for a re-enactment of the shooting inside the building as part of a civil lawsuit against Peterson.

The re-enactment was going be recorded to be reviewed by the court and was planned to include the same type of weapons and ammo used, but with blanks instead of live ammunition.

[20] Peterson's legal team requested that the lawsuit brought against him by the victims’ survivors and families be dismissed in December, 2023.

Some called Peterson a "failure" and "the coward of Broward"[24] while others expressed their concern that he was acquitted and wondered what it would take for a person to be held accountable for their actions.