Broward State Attorney Michael J. Satz Tuesday announced plans to seek the death penalty against Nikolas Jacob Cruz, charged with killing 17 people and injuring 14 others at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

Satz submitted paperwork to the Broward Clerk of Courts signaling plans to seek death for Cruz, 19.

Defense lawyers said they hope to avoid the death penalty for a man they presented as a struggling teen and orphan, whose mother died Nov. 1.

“This was not unexpected,” said Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, whose office is representing Cruz. “We still stand ready to immediately plead guilty to 34 consecutive life sentences.”

A grand jury indicted Cruz on 17 counts of first-degree premeditated murder and 17 counts of first-degree attempted murder.

Read the notice of intent to seek the death penalty: