Daily Mail: Public defender puts arm around shackled and cowering Florida gunman at his first court appearance: 'White supremacist' is silent as he is ordered to be held without bond for killing 17 people
* Nikolas Cruz, 19, was ordered held without bail during his first court appearance on Thursday
* His public defender, Melisa McNeil, comforted him by putting a hand around his shoulder during the hearing
* The teen faces 17 counts of premeditated murder - charges that carry the death penalty in Florida
* Cruz killed 17 and injured more than a dozen when he opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Wednesday afternoon
* Details are beginning to surface about Cruz, whose adoptive mother died in November from pneumonia
* Cruz was kicked out of the the high school last year for allegedly getting into a fight
* A man also reported Cruz to the FBI last year for writing an online post saying he was going to be a shooter
* He has also been connected to a white supremacist organization, the Republic of Florida
* When gunfire rang out Wednesday afternoon, several students said they knew the gunman would be Cruz
* Many pointed to Cruz's disturbing social media, where he allegedly posted pictures of animals he killed
* President Trump said in a tweet Thursday morning that there were signs that the shooter was 'mentally disturbed' - and entreated Americans to report similar people to the authorities
A cowering Nikolas Cruz was comforted by his public defender as he was ordered held without bail during his first court appearance on Thursday, in connection to the deadly shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school on Wednesday that left 17 dead and 14 injured.
The 19-year-old wore an orange jump suit and shackles on his wrists and ankles as he was officially charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
He kept his eyes down and didn't speak in court today, other than to confirm his name with a polite 'yes ma'am' to the judge.
Read more ....
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