By Christopher Brito CBS News October 22, 2018, 2:15 PM Florida city commissioner charged with murder for shooting alleged shoplifter
Lakeland Police Department released video of city commissioner Michael Dunn fatally shooting an alleged shoplifter in his store Oct. 3.
Lakeland Police Department
A Lakeland, Florida, city commissioner is facing a second-degree murder charge n the fatal shooting of an alleged shoplifter at his military surplus store Oct. 3. Michael Dunn, who was inaugurated to a four-year term in January, appeared in court Monday after a Polk County grand-jury indicted him Friday for second-degree murder.
Dunn was booked into Polk County Jail on Friday night without bond. Several days earlier, the State Attorney's Office had released surveillance footage of Dunn's encounter with Christobal Lopez, 50, who was shopping with his father at the Vet Army Navy Surplus store. According to a police affidavit, the video shows Lopez take a hatchet and hide it under this clothing before being confronted by Dunn.
Michael Dunn, a Lakeland, Fla., city commissioner, was charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of a man at his store on Oct. 3, 2018.
Polk County Sheriff's Office
According to the affidavit, Dunn saw Lopez take the hatchet and questioned him about paying for it. Then the item fell down Lopez' pants, at which point, according to witnesses, Lopez said, "I will pay! I will pay!" But he didn't and tried to hastily exit from the store.
The video shows Dunn, who at this point is armed with a gun, grabbing Lopez by the shirt as he attempted to walk out the door. Dunn then raised his gun and fired the weapon, striking Lopez two times. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Based on testimony from witnesses, Lopez made no verbal threats against Dunn, the affidavit said. Police said Dunn admitted in an interview that he shot Lopez twice because he was stealing from his business.
Dunn also didn't attempt render aid to Lopez, according to the affidavit. When officers arrived on the scene, he was still pointing his weapon at Lopez and told them, "I think he expired!"
The fatal shooting comes amid scrutiny over the state's controversial "stand your ground" law, which says a person can use deadly force "if the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against such other's imminent use of unlawful force." After backlash in another case, in August, a man was charged with manslaughter for the shooting death of a father of three who shoved him in a parking lot.
In Dunn's case, State Attorney Brian Haas says he believes the shooting happened without lawful justification.
"I have determined in this case, and the actions of Mr. Dunn fall outside the protection of stand your ground law," Haas said.
https://www.facebook.com/LakelandPD/videos/187229012172080/
Dunn's lawyer Rusty Franklin told CBS affiliate WTSP that he will "vigorously assert Mr. Dunn's lawful right of self-defense."
"This situation was commenced and started, not by Michael Dunn," Franklin added. "Someone made a choice to shoplift."
It's unclear what's going to happen to Dunn's commission seat. That decision could be left up to his fellow commissioners or the governor, who has the power to suspend a public official who breaks the law.
Dunn's attorney requested bond in a court appearance Monday afternoon, WTSP reported.
If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.
