Orlando, FL – When 26-year-old Jose Luis Lopez dialed his neighbor for help during a break-in on West Castle Street earlier this month, he expected deputies to protect him. Instead, Lopez became the third victim in a string of mistaken shootings by Orange County deputies. This is a pattern that is raising hard questions about training, judgment, and trust.
On February 8, deputies rushed to Lopez’s home after reports of a burglary. Body-worn camera footage shows deputies shouting “drop the knife” before firing multiple times. Lopez, who spoke little English, collapsed inside his own home. No knife was found.
The man accused of breaking into Lopez’s house, Cristian Contreras, later told detectives Lopez never held a weapon. Contreras has been charged with second-degree murder, with deputies saying his actions directly led to Lopez’s death. But Lopez’s neighbors see the incident differently…