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A Florida The man who attempted to rob a home is now being prosecuted murder – Even though it was the police officers who shot and killed the homeowner.
The trial of Cristian Duran-Contreras, a 26-year-old Dominican Republic native accused of second-degree murder, burglary and robbery, began Monday. Duran-Contreras has pleaded not guilty to all charge Regarding the murder of Jose Luis Lopez. Authorities acknowledged that it was not Duran-Contreras who shot and killed Lopez, it was the police, but it is the 26-year-old who will soon learn his fate.
Orlando Against Police Crimes, a nonprofit organization, said in a statement, “No knife or weapon was recovered at the scene. Neither Luis nor Cristian were armed. Yet, instead of charging the police officers who shot and killed Luis Lopez, our State Attorney is holding Cristian Contreras solely responsible for Luis’s death.” statement,
This incident happened on the night of February in a house in Orlando. Police arrived at an alleged break-in and found Duran-Contreras and Lopez struggling. Officers claimed they saw a weapon and demanded Lopez, who was in his home, drop it. When he apparently did not do so, they opened fire and killed him.
No knife was found at the scene.
Despite not firing the shot, Duran-Contreras could be charged under Florida law because the victim died as a result of his alleged theft. This can lead to a charge of murder even without directly causing death.
The policemen who opened fire have not been charged.
Durán-Contreras and López worked together as roofers. After finishing roofing work on February 8, the pair drank beer together at Lopez’s Orlando home with other co-workers.
The 26-year-old man told investigators that Lopez allowed Duran-Contreras to stay at his white picket-fence home — but then Lopez became violent.
Other witnesses say Duran-Contreras became “aggressive” with Lopez after asking him if he would pay his share for the alcohol. As the situation heated up, a roofer ordered an Uber for Duran-Contreras. The witness said the Uber was ultimately canceled after Duran-Contreras failed to show up.
By 11 p.m., Lopez called an unnamed woman asking for advice and saying she believed someone was trying to break into her home. Both she and Lopez called 911. He told investigators that an “unknown individual” was walking around near a work truck parked in the driveway, where a ladder was stored. The man was later identified as Duran-Contreras.
Shortly before midnight, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies Alex Duran and Paul Ortiz arrived at Lopez’s home, where body camera footage shows officers taking a staircase leading to a window at the back of the home.
Lopez can be heard crying and speaking Spanish inside.
The footage, visible through an open window, showed two men standing in the kitchen, one of whom – Lopez – had the other – Duran-Contreras – in a headlock. The Sheriff’s Office said deputies believed Lopez had a knife.
As Duran attempted to enter the door, Ortiz yelled at the men in English: “Open the f***ing door! Hey, drop the knife! Drop the knife! Drop the knife! Drop the knife!” Duran goes around the corner and connects with Ortiz. The two deputies then pointed their guns at the open window and opened fire.
A total of three bullets were fired. The bullets hit Lopez in the head, killing him. No knife was ever found at the scene.
The footage showed officers urging Duran-Contreras, who was seen walking out of the house, speeding toward the door. Behind him was a body, lifeless.
Duran-Contreras was later taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening wounds, according to court records. After being interviewed by police, he was released without charge.
Body camera footage highlighted the rapid escalation of events. From the moment the ladder entered the frame to the moment the shot was taken, it took less than 10 seconds. Lopez was speaking Spanish in the footage; Court records show Duran-Contreras required a Spanish interpreter for his trial.
According to the warrant, Duran-Contreras told investigators, “Luis never had a knife and he tried to communicate with the deputy, but he does not speak or understand English, so his communication efforts were unsuccessful.”
Pine Castle, the Orlando neighborhood where Lopez lived, is about 60 percent Hispanic, according to census data.
As the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the incident, the deputies were placed on temporary paid administrative leave. He has since returned to full duty orlando sentinel Informed.
Duran-Contreras is being held in the Orange County Jail.
López’s funeral was held in Mexico in March. Lopez’s sister Araceli said in March that she and her family were still trying to figure out the circumstances of his death.
“I wish they had acted differently. We want justice. Our family is here. Anybody can tell you we are polite people,” he said. wwtv,
The lawsuit is now ongoing in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.