Broward deputy was sleeping on the job the day Nikolas Cruz’s brother trespassed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

A Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to protect Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, was caught sleeping on the job the same day that suspected school shooter Nikolas Cruz’s brother showed up on campus.

ABC News 10 reports that Deputy Moises Carotti has been suspended after a student found him sleeping in his patrol car on Monday.

Veda Coleman-Wright, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff’s Office, told the news station that the student found Corotti asleep in his patrol car just after 5 p.m. outside of the same building where Nikolas Cruz opened fire on February 14, killing 17 people.

About a half an hour before the student discovered the deputy sleeping, Nikolas’s brother Zachary Cruz had trespassed on the campus despite orders to stay away. Police said that Zachary told them he went to the high school to “reflect on the school shooting and soak it in.”

The discovery of the sleeping deputy may help explain how Zachary was able to get on the school grounds.

The sheriff spokesperson told ABC News 10 that Deputy Corotti has been suspended without pay pending an investigation.

Another Broward County Sheriff’s deputy, School Resource Officer Scot Peterson, retired last month after a review of the events of February 14 found that the armed SRO never entered the building where Nikolas Cruz opened fire. Deputy Peterson chose to resign and retire rather than be suspended during an investigation.

Sen. Marco Rubio condemned Deputy Carotti’s job performance as “outrageous.”

“Of all the schools in America, you would think this would be the safest one right now,” Rubio reportedly said.

Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said on Twitter on Monday that law enforcement would further enhance security measures at the high school.

“Security at Marjory Stoneman Douglas continues to be an urgent priority for us,” he said.

“Given the developments over the past 24 hours, we will further enhance school safety measures. Communications on details will be forthcoming tomorrow.”

 

[Feature image: Associated Press]