Two bystanders are dead after a hostage situation in south Florida, and it is police who are being scrutinized. Footage from media outlets are circulating online, showing the fatal incident in which two robbery suspects had taken a UPS driver and his truck hostage. Gunshots were fired. It appeared that the hostage, identified as 27-year-old father of two Frank Ordonez, and at least one of the suspects tumbled out of the vehicle. Some blame police for the victim’s death.
You can see footage of the incident here. Please note that it is graphic and disturbing.
Cops just unloaded on an innocent UPS driver that was hostage in an armed robbery. You can watch the video for yourself pretty graphic.
This happened in Miami. pic.twitter.com/OB3W35D3Dz
— Kluebtorious (@rklueber28) December 5, 2019
“They caught the fucking UPS guy, I’m telling you,” said a viewer in the footage above.
RELATED: Stepfather of UPS Driver Slain During Hostage Situation Says Police ‘Murdered’ Him
The second victim has been identified as 70-year-old Richard Cutshaw.
Here’s another vantage point reviewed by Brandon Friedman, a former official at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration:
1. This absolutely appalling highway shootout yesterday encapsulates the under-trained, military-cosplaying, Punisher-wannabe cops who permeate America’s police departments.
They killed both the hostage and a bystander, then bragged “no LEOs were harmed.”pic.twitter.com/jNFvkNyAPI
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) December 6, 2019
Friedman, a former captain in the U.S. Army, knocked the police response.
3. I count at least five instances of cops firing on the vehicle *with the hostage* while using occupied civilian vehicles as *human shields.* This is shocking and deplorable police work. Everyone should have their badges and guns taken away. pic.twitter.com/frU5tUSVvM
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) December 6, 2019
CBS 4 investigative reporter Jim DeFede was more diplomatic and even-keeled, but nonetheless said questions need to be asked about this frightening rush-hour shootout.
-Who was in command during the chase. Having 19 officers shooting into the UPS truck suggests chaos
I realize it is easy to second guess a dangerous situation. And the police do a job that I would not want to do myself
But innocent people are dead. Questions need to be asked.
— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) December 6, 2019
Officially speaking, it’s unclear whose bullets ended the lives of Ordonez and Cutshaw, who was in a nearby vehicle.
DEVELOPING: A total of 19 officers – from five different agencies – fired into the UPS truck, a senior law enforcement source tells @CBSMiami
The majority were from Miami Dade PD, but also included officers from Pembroke Pinea, FHP and Miramar.— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) December 6, 2019
The number of shots fired by the officers is not currently known but my source said it could exceed 200 rounds.
In addition to the UPS driver – who was on his knees – the innocent bystander was shot while sitting in a car waiting at the stop light in the intersection @CBSMiami
— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) December 6, 2019
In a joint press conference with police Thursday night, FBI Special Agent in Charge George Piro said two armed suspects robbed the Regent Jewelers in Coral Gables during the afternoon. Shots were fired as they fled the scene.
The suspects hijacked a UPS truck and kidnapped the driver, Piro said. A high-speed pursuit continued through Broward and Miami-Dade counties, and ended in the city of Miramar, he said.
“The armed suspects engaged law enforcement, opened fire,” he said. “There was exchanged fire between law enforcement and the suspects, and unfortunately the suspects are now deceased, but two additional innocent civilians were also deceased.”
The FBI is leading the investigation. Piro didn’t say whose bullets hit the victims.
“As I mentioned earlier, it is very, very early on in the investigation, and it would be completely inappropriate to discuss that,” he said, adding that suspects had opened fire on law enforcement as they were fleeing officers. He said that the investigation on this was ongoing, and providing information would be “inappropriate at this time.”
Ordonez was identified as the father of two girls. A GoFundMe spokesperson told Law&Crime about two verified campaigns in his name: 1) by his brother; and 2) from a person identifying themselves as a UPS driver from New York.
Frank Ordonez, 27, was the father of two daughters, ages 3 and 6.
— WPTV (@WPTV) December 6, 2019
IDENTIFIED – A UPS driver killed in a hostage situation and shootout in Miramar has been identified as 27-year-old Frank Ordonez. He leaves behind two young daughters. https://t.co/PTLwyEUvU0
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) December 6, 2019
[Screengrab via CBS This Morning]
