Orlando, FL – A Florida man is currently on trial for second-degree murder, burglary, and theft after a homeowner was killed by police officers during a reported robbery. Despite the fact that the police officers fired the fatal shots, it is Cristian Duran-Contreras, the accused, who is facing charges related to the death of Jose Luis Lopez.
The Alleged Incident
The tragic incident occurred on the night of February 8, 2024, at Lopez’s Orlando home. Authorities claim that when they arrived at the scene of a reported break-in, they found Duran-Contreras and Lopez in a struggle. Police believed Lopez was armed with a knife, but no weapon was recovered after the incident. Despite Lopez not being armed, police officers fired at him, killing him. The police have not been charged in the incident.
According to court documents, Duran-Contreras and Lopez, both roofers, had been drinking beer together at Lopez’s home earlier that evening. After tensions arose over the alcohol, Duran-Contreras became aggressive with Lopez, and a witness called an Uber for him, though the ride was canceled when Duran-Contreras failed to show up.
Around 11 p.m., Lopez reportedly called a woman, expressing concerns that someone was attempting to break into his home. The woman and Lopez both called 911, stating they saw someone loitering near a work truck, which turned out to be Duran-Contreras.
Police Response and Fatal Shooting
At just before midnight, deputies Alex Duran and Paul Ortiz arrived at the scene. Body camera footage shows the officers discovering a ladder propped up against the back of the home, leading to a window. Inside, Lopez was heard wailing in distress, and the officers claimed they saw him holding Duran-Contreras in a headlock…