Actions

Coconut Creek Police Officer Michael Leonard talks about the arrest of school shooting suspect

Posted

The police officer who arrested Florida shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz has revealed how he encountered the teenager.

Nearby police departments also responded to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland.

Among them was the Coconut Creek Police Department.

Officer Michael Leonard says he was at headquarters when the call came in.

Leonard says the 19-year-old suspect looked like a "typical high school student" when he spotted him.

FULL COVERAGE: Parkland school shooting

"And for a quick moment, I thought, 'could this be the person? Is this who I need to stop?' Training kicked in. I pulled my vehicle over immediately. Engaged the suspect. He complied with my commands and was taken into custody without any, uh, any issues," Leonard said.

Cruz is accused of killing 17 people and wounding many others.