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Michael Dunn was indicted on Friday for the second-degree murder of 50-year-old Cristobal Lopez, who was shot dead in a Dunn-owned Lakeland, Florida surplus store, the Lakeland Police Department said.
He is detained without engagement at Polk County Prison. His court appearance is scheduled for Saturday morning, said a spokesman for the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
The surveillance video from the Vets Army Navy Surplus store seems to show that Lopez is trying to leave while Dunn is catching him by the shirt. We then see Lopez hold the door handle of the store's entrance while Dunn tries to bring him back to the inside of the store.
Dunn, who was holding a firearm in his other hand, lost the grip of Lopez's shirt and fired two shots, the police said.
When the police arrived at the store, Dunn stood above Lopez and pointed his firearm at him, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
"I think he's expired," he told the police, according to the affidavit.
Lopez was shot in the left chest and in the middle of the back. He died on the scene, says the document.
Dunn did not help Lopez after the shooting, police said.
The shop owner claims self-defense
After the shooting, Dunn told the detectives that he had acted out of fear. Lopez carried the ax, but he held his blade in the palm of his hand, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Florida Attorney Brian Haas said at a press conference Friday that he thought Dunn's actions were not justified under Florida law "Defend your ground".
Suspected thief tries to flee
Dunn was in his office when he saw Lopez removing the ax from a stand and hiding it under his shirt when registering the store's surveillance camera, police said.
When Lopez and his father started leaving the store after buying a hat, Dunn confronted Lopez. According to the police, during the confrontation, the ax fell to the ground on Lopez's pants.
Lopez picked him up and said he would pay for the ax, but he tried to leave just after reaching the checkout, according to the police.
"At no time does the victim appear to have made threatening moves towards the suspect," the affidavit says.
Witnesses told the police that Lopez had not verbally threatened Dunn.
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