Police Release Video of Florida City Commissioner Shooting Shoplifter

Warning: Video footage may be disturbing to some

Police in Lakeland, Florida, have released surveillance camera footage showing a local politician shooting and killing an alleged shoplifter.

City commissioner Michael Dunn is a co-owner of Vet’s Surplus, Inc., an Army-Navy surplus store in Lakeland.

In the shooting, officers said they found 50-year-old Cristobal Lopez shot at the entrance of the store, reported the Bradenton Herald.

According to the Lakeland Police Department, Lopez had been shopping at the store with his father. Dunn then apparently saw him take a hatchet, and he tried to escape.

“According to statements, Lopez entered the store with his father. As his father was making a purchase, store owner Michael Dunn, witnessed Lopez taking and concealing a hatchet, before trying to exit the store. Dunn stopped Lopez asking him if he was going to pay for the item and a confrontation ensued. Dunn then fired his weapon, striking Lopez who was still in possession of the hatchet. In addition to Lopez ’s father and Dunn, detectives interviewed two store employees working at the time,” said police on Oct. 3. The video footage was released Oct. 15.

“We have received multiple requests for comments, reports, surveillance videos and evidence regarding the shooting at the Vets Army Navy Surplus store,” said a Facebook post regarding the video. “Please understand this is an ongoing criminal investigation. We are working with the State Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiners Office, two wonderfully reputable agencies, to ensure this investigation is done in the most transparent, professional way possible. Until the investigation is complete, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Police in Lakeland, Florida, have released surveillance camera footage showing a local politician shooting and killing an alleged shoplifter Lakeland Police

An investigation into the matter is ongoing. No arrests have been made.

“At this time, in the interest of transparency, although the criminal investigation continues to be active, we at the Lakeland Police Department have requested and received the approval of the State Attorney’s Office to release all the videos which show the shooting that occurred on October 3rd. Raw files of the videos have been submitted to the State Attorney’s Office and media. The clips shown here have been shortened for the sake of time, showing only when activity is occurring,” the police department also said. “Though citizens may have strong feelings about what is depicted, we ask you to remain patient as our department continues to work with the State Attorney’s Office to investigate.”

According to ABC Action News, a reporter approached Commissioner Stephanie Madden outside city hall this week. She told the outlet: “It’s just tragic all the way around, I don’t really know what else to say.”

Lakeland is a city in Polk County, located east of Tampa Bay.