https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-ne-parkland-snead-apology-letter-20200728-iyf3zfl67vdk7pz6rb74qn75ky-story.html

Looking back on it, James and Kimberly Snead say they never should have provided refuge to a disturbed teenager who later slaughtered 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

They should not have let him bring guns into their home. They should not have ignored the warnings of people who knew him better.

They should have believed what they were told: that he was homicidal, untrustworthy and infatuated with firearms.

“We thought we could handle this troubled young man, unfortunately, we were wrong,” they say in a public apology revealed Tuesday. “We were particularly wrong to allow him to store his firearms in our house, including the AR-15 used in this tragedy.”

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“We did so believing we were helping a troubled young man who needed help. We are profoundly sorry for the actions and inactions which may have contributed to Nikolas Cruz’s ability to carry out the murders on Feb. 14, 2018.”

The Sneads allowed the mentally disturbed Cruz to keep a collection of knives and guns at their home, including the assault-style rifle used in the killing.

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The couple still say they thought Cruz’s guns were secure in a locked cabinet and only they had the key. But they now admit: “We were particularly wrong to allow him to store his firearms in our house.”

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“Everything everybody seems to know, we didn’t know,” James Snead said on Good Morning America a week after the shootings. Snead called Cruz “polite” and said, “He seemed normal.”

The Sneads are one of a chain of people and institutions faulted for failing to intervene to stop Cruz’s murderous path.

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“We want people to learn from our mistakes and experience,” the Sneads wrote.

They encourage people to think carefully before bringing a potentially dangerous youth into their home.

“If they have a history or exhibit any warning signs you must immediately get him or her the professional help they need and contact law enforcement,” their letter states.

The Sneads also advise people to make sure all firearms are securely locked and to review the youth’s social media accounts regularly.

“Troubled persons so often foretell the violence that they’re going to commit on social media.”