Video shows Lakeland city commissioner fatally shooting alleged thief
Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn.
LAKELAND, Fla. – Prosecutors are trying to determine whether a Florida city commissioner should be charged in the fatal shooting of a man he accused of shoplifting a hatchet from an Army-Navy surplus store.
Surveillance video shows the store's co-owner, Lakeland Commissioner Michael Dunn , shooting Cristobal Lopez on Oct. 3.
[PREVIOUS: Lakeland city commissioner fatally shoots customer at store over stolen hatchet ]
It shows Dunn holding a gun in his right hand while trying to keep Lopez from carrying the hatchet out of the store. Dunn grabs a fistful of his shirt and Lopez is partly out the door, raising the hatchet, when Dunn fires and Lopez falls, mortally wounded.
Dunn's attorney, Rusty Franklin, told the Tampa Bay Times it was justified because Lopez was holding the hatchet.
Prosecutor Jacob Orr said Monday that keeping the video secret didn't benefit the investigation.
Copyright 2018 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.
Rollins College student arrested after rifle, ammunition found on school property, police say ▶ 1:23
Rollins College student arrested after rifle, ammunition found on school property, police say
Disney World property employee accused of stealing hundreds of dollars using guest’s checks ▶ 0:44
Disney World property employee accused of stealing hundreds of dollars using guest’s checks
‘Breaking Bad on steroids:’ Florida sheriff details seizure of 92,000 pounds of drugs, arsenal of weapons ▶ 0:57
‘Breaking Bad on steroids:’ Florida sheriff details seizure of 92,000 pounds of drugs, arsenal of weapons
Orlando pastry chef brings Brazilian flavors to Food Network’s ‘Holiday Baking Championship’ ▶ 1:03
Orlando pastry chef brings Brazilian flavors to Food Network’s ‘Holiday Baking Championship’
🌳Discover the Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park: Family-friendly aerial adventure minutes from Disney ▶ 1:16
🌳Discover the Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park: Family-friendly aerial adventure minutes from Disney
Tavares eyes fines, permits for garage sale violations ▶ 0:48
Tavares eyes fines, permits for garage sale violations
Central Florida’s newest Trader Joe’s is officially open!🛒✨ ▶ 0:48
Central Florida’s newest Trader Joe’s is officially open!🛒✨
A Door Dash driver uses the 5-second rule on some unknowing customers. It’s caught on a doorbell camera. ▶ 1:26
A Door Dash driver uses the 5-second rule on some unknowing customers. It’s caught on a doorbell camera.
Secret Service launches crackdown on EBT fraud, targets credit card skimmers ▶ 0:35
Secret Service launches crackdown on EBT fraud, targets credit card skimmers
Port Canaveral now the most-visited cruise terminal in the world, leaders announce ▶ 0:47
Port Canaveral now the most-visited cruise terminal in the world, leaders announce
1 injured in Sanford house fire ▶ 0:47
1 injured in Sanford house fire
Most powerful rocket ever made coming to KSC ▶ 0:59
Most powerful rocket ever made coming to KSC
Cyber Monday shifts to Giving Tuesday as Salvation Army to host world’s largest red kettle at Cranes Roost Park ▶ 0:50
Cyber Monday shifts to Giving Tuesday as Salvation Army to host world’s largest red kettle at Cranes Roost Park
Who would do a thing like this? Enormous Christmas bulbs missing from downtown Melbourne display ▶ 0:40
Who would do a thing like this? Enormous Christmas bulbs missing from downtown Melbourne display
SunRail expands late-night service with 2 new trains. Here’s what to know ▶ 1:04
SunRail expands late-night service with 2 new trains. Here’s what to know
Amazon in Orlando expects almost double the packages for Cyber Monday ▶ 0:41
Amazon in Orlando expects almost double the packages for Cyber Monday
‘Stand Your Ground’ cited after fatal Seminole County shooting stems from apparent road rage ▶ 0:49
‘Stand Your Ground’ cited after fatal Seminole County shooting stems from apparent road rage
A Door Dash driver uses the 5-second rule on some unknowing customers. It’s caught on a doorbell camera. ▶ 1:26
A Door Dash driver uses the 5-second rule on some unknowing customers. It’s caught on a doorbell camera.
Healthcare relief for thousands of Seniors in The Villages ▶ 0:30
Healthcare relief for thousands of Seniors in The Villages
‘Just feels magical:’ How Park Avenue in Winter Park gets its holiday glow-up ▶ 0:26
‘Just feels magical:’ How Park Avenue in Winter Park gets its holiday glow-up
Warm start to week before Thanksgiving cooldown in Central Florida. Here’s the timing ▶ 0:59
Warm start to week before Thanksgiving cooldown in Central Florida. Here’s the timing
‘The Midnight Stalker:’ Mystery surrounds masked person leaving wood, money on Florida front porches ▶ 0:58
‘The Midnight Stalker:’ Mystery surrounds masked person leaving wood, money on Florida front porches
Shots fired at Deltona home after attempted break-in, deputies say ▶ 0:45
Shots fired at Deltona home after attempted break-in, deputies say
Sisters find mother’s Ocala apartment emptied days after her death ▶ 0:29
Sisters find mother’s Ocala apartment emptied days after her death
16-year-old stepbrother ‘is a suspect’ in Titusville teen’s death on cruise ship, court documents show ▶ 0:26
16-year-old stepbrother ‘is a suspect’ in Titusville teen’s death on cruise ship, court documents show
Previous photo Next photo 