Stoneman High School massacre families to get '$127.5MILLION payout'

Attorneys for 16 of the 17 killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and some of those wounded said they have reached a monetary settlement with the government over the FBI's failure to investigate a tip it received about a month before the massacre.

The 17th family chose not to sue.

The families of most of those killed and wounded in the 2018 Florida high school massacre announced Monday have reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the federal government over the FBI's failure to stop the gunman even though it had received information he intended to attack. Nikolas Cruz entered guilty pleas to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in a Florida court this morning (pictured in court last month)

Surveillance video captured Cruz, now 23, stalking the hallways of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018, aged 19

Cruz activated the fire alarm and then opened fire for a total of six minutes, killing 17 - 14 students and three teachers - and wounding 17 others (Pictured: Students were evacuated from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School by police during the mass shooting)

Seventeen people were killed in the shooting on Valentine's Day 2018 - 14 students, and three school workers

The attorneys said the settlement's details are confidential, but a person familiar with the deal said the government will pay the families $127.5 million overall.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the amount.

'It has been an honor to represent the Parkland families who, through their immeasurable grief, have devoted themselves to making the world a safer place,' their lead attorney, Kristina Infante, said in a statement.

'Although no resolution could ever restore what the Parkland families lost, this settlement marks an important step toward justice.'

Fifteen-year-old victim Luke Hoyer's mother Gena (right) was pictured hugging Debbie Hixon, whose husband was the athletic director at the school in 2018 when he was shot dead

Gina Montalto, 14, was one of 17 victims on the Valentine's Day shooting. Her mother Jennifer (right) was pictured during a court recess today

Luke Hoyer's mother Gena wore a necklace with her son's picture (left) and Tony Montalto wore a pin of his daughter Gina (right), who died in the massacre at Cruz's trial

How were at least 16 warning signs missed for Nikolas Cruz?

1. 'I'm going to be a professional school shooter'

Nikolas Cruz left a comment on a YouTube video back in September using his own name that simply read: 'I'm going to be a professional school shooter'

2. FBI was warned about the comment but couldn't identify him

Vlogger Ben Bennight alerted the FBI to the comment shared by Cruz. The FBI was quick to respond, arriving at his office the next day but only after Bennight called a local field agent, revealing his initial attempts to send in a screengrab of the comment failed when the email address he found listed on the agency's website came back with a domain error saying it did not exist. The FBI was unable to identify the person who posted the comment.

3. Bought an AR-15 age 18

4. Troubling Instagram page

Cruz's Instagram page is filled with disturbing posts of what appears to be himself showing off with weapons with his face covered, asking for advice on buying firearms, and making racist comments about Muslims.

5. Was a member of a white nationalist group and came to training exercises

Jordan Jereb claims that Cruz was a member of the Republic of Florida, which aims to make Florida its own white-entho state.

6. Boasted about hurting animals

Students who say they knew Cruz claimed he liked to kill animals.

'He was crazy because he liked to kill small things, like little animals - frogs and other animals like that and he just had a crazy mind,' one told 10ABC news.

Another classmate claims he would tell him he shot rats with a BB gun.

7. Took knives and bullets to school

Former classmate Joshua Charo, 16, said all he 'would talk about is guns, knives and hunting'.

Another student said he started selling knives out of a lunchbox when he started high school, while he was also found to be carrying bullet casings in his bag.

8. Was banned from carrying a backpack

Jim Gard, a math teacher, who had Cruz in his class last year, said he believes the school sent out an email warning teachers he shouldn't be allowed on campus with a backpack.

'There were problems with him last year threatening students and I guess he was asked to leave campus'.

9. Expelled for fighting

The deeply troubled 'loner' was expelled last year for 'fighting over his ex-girlfriend' with her new boyfriend.

10. Abusive to his ex-girlfriend

Students claim the gunman was abusive to his girlfriend

11. Stalked another girl

Mr Gard also claimed that he was taken with another student 'to the point of stalking her', while another student who claims to have been friends with Cruz said he had to cut him off because he started 'going after' and 'threatening' a female friend of his.

12. Peeping Tom

Neighbor Christine Rosburgh said she, and all the other neighbors, were terrified of the teen who would bang his head against a cement wall if his legal guardians tried to send him to school.

She also claims she caught him peeking in her window and when she confronted him, he said he was looking for golf balls.

'I said, "This isn't the golf course".

13. Stopped his mental health treatment

Cruz had been getting treatment at a mental health clinic, but stopped about a year ago and dropped off the radar. He was showing signs of depression.

Broward County Mayor Beam Furr said: 'It wasn't like there wasn't concern for him. We try to keep out eyes out on those kids who aren't connected... In this case, we didn't find a way to connect with this kid.'

14. Possible fetal alcohol syndrome

Natalie Brassard, a program director at the non-profit FASCETS, which works with FASD children, said some of Cruz's characteristics 'suggest that he might have been living with an invisible brain-based condition - it could have been FASD or many others.'

Conditions of FASD can range from mild to severe but can include learning disabilities, intellectual disability or low IQ, poor reasoning and judgment and a host of other issues.

15. Orphaned

Cruz's adoptive mother, Lynda Cruz, 68, died of pneumonia in November last year. She was one of the only people that was remotely close to Cruz. His adoptive father Roger Cruz died of a heart attack several years ago.

16. Disturbing posts on Snapchat

Cruz was investigated by state authorities in 2016 after he filmed himself cutting his own arms on Snapchat and saying he wanted to buy a gun.

He posted the video on the social media app in September 2016, 17 months before he allegedly committed the school shooting.

He posted the Snapchat clip just days after turning 18 year of age and shortly after he broke up with his girlfriend ‘who was cheating on him,’ his mother told investigators.

Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter Meadow died in the shooting, commended the FBI for accepting responsibility for its inaction, comparing it to the Broward County school district and sheriff's office, the school security staff and the psychologists who treated the