A city commissioner in Florida has been charged with second-degree murder after a grand jury rejected the state’s “stand your ground” law as his possible defense, the Lakeland Ledger reports.
The stand-your-ground law affords limited protections against prosecution to a person who kills another person and claims it was an act of self-defense. Michael Dunn, a city commissioner of Lakeland, Fla., shot a shoplifter at his military surplus store on Oct. 3.
Christobal Lopez reportedly attempted to steal a small hatchet, and Dunn stopped him, asking if he was going to pay for the item.
“Dunn then fired his weapon, striking Lopez, who was still in possession of the hatchet,” Lakeland Police said in a statement.
Dunn was arrested Friday, days after police released video surveillance from the store showing the incident, and is being held without bond at the Polk County Jail. The surveillance video shows Dunn grabbing onto Christobal’s left sleeve as he tries to exit out the front door. Moments later, Dunn raises a gun and shoots Lopez in the upper left torso.
A probable cause affidavit shows that Lopez reportedly offered to pay for the hatchet but then tried to flee the store, per CNN.
“At no time did the victim appear to have made any threatening movements towards the suspect,” the affidavit stated, according to CNN.
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