Gabrielle Okun, DCNF

Florida school massacre suspect Nikolas Cruz reportedly attacked his adoptive mother for years, according to a report Saturday.

Cruz, who shot and killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Wednesday, has a long history of alleged abuse to his adoptive mother, reported the New York Post. Cruz would throw chairs, a dog bowl, and cups at his mother Lynda Cruz, who died last November from pneumonia. There are at least 30 reports of violent and destructive behavior in his home life since 2011, according to CNN.

Lynda called the police multiple times to report his violent and destructive behavior. The most recent report is from September 2016 with Cruz described as “emotionally handicapped” and wanting to buy a gun. She told the Broward County Sheriff Deputies that 18-year-old Cruz began “cutting his arms … to get attention” and wanted to acquire a gun. Cruz passed a background check and legally bought an AR-15 from Sunrise Tactical Supply in Coral Springs in 2017.

Lynda called police in 2013 after Cruz allegedly hit her with a vacuum cleaner and called her a “useless bitch.” Cruz was given medication from a nearby health facility and began to “calm down,” according to Nina Barela, a counselor from Henderson Behavioral Health Facility. Barela told police that it was not necessary to put Cruz in custody since he was not a threat to others, CNN reported.

Lynda was also strict with disciplining her children and was once investigated for allegedly abusing her sons and failing to supervise them. The case was later closed, reported the Miami Herald.

Kimberly Snead, who took in Cruz following Lynda’s death said she took him to a therapist five days before the shooting, reported Fox News.

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