Latest news with #MarjoryStonemanDouglas
News.com.au
05-08-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Jim Acosta slammed for ‘ghoulish' interview with AI-generated deceased school shooting victim
Former CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta has been condemned over a 'ghoulish' interview with an AI-generated avatar of a teenager killed in the Parkland, Florida school massacre. Joaquin Oliver was one of 17 staff and students who died when expelled former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. On Monday, which would have been Oliver's 25th birthday, a reanimated version of him appeared on Acosta's Substack show, The Jim Acosta Show. The avatar of Oliver was created by his father, Manuel, and was 'interviewed' by Acosta – who in the lead-up described the episode as a 'show you don't want to miss' and a 'one of a kind interview' – to promote a message about gun control. 'What happened to you?' Acosta began the interview by asking Oliver, whose photograph was animated by AI and spoke in a stilted monotone. 'I appreciate your curiosity. I was taken from this world too soon due to gun violence while at school,' his avatar responded. 'It's important to talk about these issues so we can create a safer future for everyone.' Asked by Acosta what his 'solution would be for gun violence', Oliver's avatar responded: 'Great question. I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement. We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard. It's about building a culture of kindness and understanding. What do you think of that?' To which Acosta replied: 'I think that's a great idea, Joaquin.' Criticism of the 'ghoulish' nature of the interaction was swift. A live chat on Acosta's Substack as the conversation aired was littered with messages describing it as 'creepy', 'weird' and 'unsettling'. 'There are living survivors of school shootings you could interview, and it would really be their words and thoughts instead of completely made up,' one user wrote on the social media platform Bluesky. Speaking to Manuel after his interview with his son's avatar, Acosta said he 'felt like I was speaking with Joaquin. It's just a beautiful thing.' He later added, 'He's a symbol of something that is deeply, deeply wrong with this country. People give up, and I think something like this is maybe going to give some people some hope, that we should keep charging, keep pushing for this.' Manuel told Acosta that he wasn't trying to – and couldn't – bring his son back. 'However, the technology is out there. I can hear his voice again,' he said. Acosta went on to say that Oliver should still be alive today. 'Yes, I know that it might be a little startling to see one of these young people, a child like Joaquin, come back to us in this fashion, in the form of artificial intelligence, but please understand after watching this that this AI experiment is an expression of love from the Oliver family to their son,' he likeness had been generated by his father using AI before, including last year, when a message of his voice was used to call members of Congress to push voting for gun control measures. 'It's been six years, and you've done nothing, not a thing to stop all the shootings that have continued to happen since,' the message said. 'I died that day in Parkland, my body was destroyed by a weapon of war.'
CBS News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Perjury charge dropped against ex-Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie
On the day jury selection was set to begin for his trial, a felony perjury charge against former Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie was dropped by the state attorney's office. Runcie was indicted in April 2021 for allegedly lying to a statewide grand jury that investigated events surrounding the 2018 Parkland high school shooting, which left 17 dead. The case against Runcie stemmed from questions over his management of a $1 billion bond issue that passed four years before the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High massacre. Runcie and other bond supporters had said its primary focus would be to improve school safety. But the grand jurors in their final report accused Runcie and school board members of making "uninformed or even misinformed decisions, incompetent management and lack of meaningful oversight" in the bond's implementation. Runcie accused of making false statements Prosecutors had contended that Runcie lied repeatedly to the grand jury when asked about the criminal case against his former technology chief, Tony Hunter. The grand jury indicted Hunter earlier in 2021 on charges he took a bribe from a vendor to rig a contract that came from the bond issue. Hunter pleaded not guilty. Last year, a judge dismissed Hunter's case on jurisdictional grounds. Prosecutors said Runcie told the grand jury he had not contacted anyone about the Hunter case and his only knowledge of the contract was from a presentation given years earlier. In fact, prosecutors said, Runcie had contacted others, including former procurement director Mary Coker, about the contract just days before he testified. In April, 2023, Circuit Judge Martin Fein dismissed the perjury charge, agreeing with defense attorneys that state law only gives it jurisdiction over crimes that occurred in multiple counties. Runcie only testified in one. His attorneys argued that if the statewide grand jury had evidence of Runcie committing perjury, it should have turned that over to the Broward County grand jury or the local state attorney's office for consideration. The state appealed and in October, 2024, three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal overturned Fein's decision to dismiss the charge.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Peter Wang, teen Junior ROTC cadet killed in Parkland shooting, honored as West Point 2025 graduate
Washington — The cadets graduating Saturday from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point spent four years studying strategy, ethics and the art of leadership. They march past statues of battlefield giants, memorize the lessons of Antietam and Afghanistan and are steeped in stories of courage drawn from the long arc of American military history. But among the lessons on duty and sacrifice for the class of 2025, there's inspiration among their ranks — one not found in the footnotes of war colleges or the annals of Medal of Honor citations. It's the story of a teenager who never wore a uniform beyond the one he donned as a Junior ROTC cadet in Florida seven years ago — a boy who dreamed of being a soldier, but before he could achieve it, he had already sacrificed his life as a hero. Peter Wang, a member of this year's West Point class, was just 15 years old when he was among the 17 killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He was found dead in a third-floor hallway, wearing his Army JROTC uniform. When the sounds of gunfire reverberated through the hallways, Peter was in study hall, passing time over a chessboard. As panic spread through the corridors, he moved toward the exit—not to flee, but to hold the door open, easing the way for his classmates to escape behind him. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a U.S. senator for the state of Florida at the time of the shooting, told CBS News the tributes to Peter were a "solemn recognition of [his] bravery and heroism on that horrific day. Duty, honor, and country are key pillars of West Point cadets, and it's clear Peter personified these principles." He was shot 13 times, first in the foot, then twice more in the thigh. A round tore through his torso. His arms absorbed five more bullets. The final shots—four in total—were to his head, according to Wendolyn Sneed, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy and testified at the shooter's sentencing hearing. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, now a U.S. senator, authorized the Florida National Guard to honor Peter with a military funeral. Hundreds assembled in South Florida to pay their respects, with attendees spanning generations and backgrounds. Junior ROTC cadets from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and other South Florida schools stood saluting in uniform, joined by military veterans and local residents. The gathering reflected the deep impact Peter had on both his peers and the wider community. File: Funeral of Peter Wang, Junior ROTC student killed in Parkland shooting CBS News / James LaPorta screenshot An American flag was draped over Peter's casket as "Taps" echoed through the air and salutes rose from all corners of the crowd. Among them were veterans with lined faces, uniformed service members, and first responders in dress attire. But it was the youngest among them—fellow Junior ROTC cadets in crisp uniforms—who stood most still. For his actions, Peter was posthumously awarded the Medal of Heroism by the U.S. Army, the highest award given to Army JROTC and ROTC cadets whose performance "involved the acceptance of danger and extraordinary responsibilities." Junior ROTC cadets Alaina Petty and Martin Duque, who were also killed during the shooting, also received the medal. West Point granted Peter honorary admission to the class of 2025, which is now preparing to take their commission as second lieutenants and potentially lead soldiers into battle. "Peter demonstrated the characteristics and attributes we seek out of graduates of the Naval Academy or West Point," said retired Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, the West Point superintendent who authorized Wang's entry into the class of 2025. "Individuals like Peter are exactly the men and women you want leading America's youth in combat situations, the fact that he demonstrated that at his age says a lot about him which is why we made him an honorary member of the class."
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
DeSantis signs school safety bill, adds changes made since 2018 Parkland shooting
A bill that addresses a series of school safety issues, including training for school security guards, has been signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. This spring, the House and Senate unanimously passed the bill. It adds to safety changes made since the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17 people. "Every year, we are incorporating lessons learned and looking for improvements," Republican Senator Danny Burgess, who sponsored the bill, said. "Florida families expect us to get this right. We can't, and we won't let them down." As an example, the bill requires that training of school security guards be conducted by sheriffs or approved by sheriffs. As another example, the bill makes changes to requirements about perimeter and door security at schools. DeSantis signed the measure, which will take effect July 1, during an appearance in Winter Haven.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Parkland families push back as NRA asks Supreme Court to strike down Florida gun law
Families of Parkland shooting victims are speaking out against the National Rifle Association's push to overturn a Florida law that raised the minimum age to buy a gun from 18 to 21, a measure enacted after the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The NRA is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the law, drawing fierce criticism from those still grieving the loss of loved ones. A law born from tragedy Debbie Hixon's husband, Chris Hixon, was one of 17 people killed in the Parkland shooting. He died trying to disarm the gunman. "He ran into the building to try and disarm the shooter," Hixon recalled. In the wake of the shooting, Florida legislators responded by raising the legal age to purchase firearms. That law, passed with bipartisan support, has faced repeated challenges since - primarily backed by the NRA. NRA argues for adult gun rights The NRA contends that the law violates the constitutional rights of 18- to 20-year-olds. In a statement to CBS News Miami, John Commerford of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action said: "Americans 18 years of age and older are considered adults who can vote, enter into contracts, marry, and enlist and fight for our country. Those same adults are also guaranteed the right to defend themselves through the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution." The group has appealed to the Supreme Court, citing conflicting rulings in lower courts over similar age-based firearm restrictions. A mother's frustration and hope for finality Hixon, who has advocated for gun safety legislation since her husband's death, expressed frustration that the law continues to face legal and political challenges - despite its public support and connection to one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. "There's no line of 18-year-olds that are demanding this right. There's just none," she said. "I've been to a number of the sessions and sat in there. There's two older gentlemen that are from the NRA that complain about it, but there's no 18-year-olds that are demanding this opportunity." For three consecutive years, Florida lawmakers in the state House have voted to repeal the law, but each time, the measure has stalled in the Senate. Hixon hopes a final ruling from the nation's highest court will settle the issue once and for all. "If the Supreme Court says that the law is constitutional and they'll uphold the law, then we won't have to hear about it again," she said. "It would be really nice not to have it come back again."
