ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Police Department on Wednesday morning released several body-worn camera videos of the deadly shooting of a 26-year-old man that happened earlier this month in downtown Orlando.
>>> Derek Diaz’s family describes watching video of his downtown Orlando shooting death <<<
Police said three officers on bicycles approached Derek Diaz on July 3 at East Jefferson Street and North Orange Avenue as he was sitting in his parked car because they suspected him of doing drugs. Police shot him one minute into their interaction.
In the videos released Wednesday, Orlando police Officer Jose Velez is heard ordering Diaz to turn off his car.
Velez then instructs Diaz to hand him an item wrapped in a crumpled piece of aluminum foil and another item.
“Give me that, give me the other one and put your hands on the steering wheel right now,” he said. “Don’t move.”
The officer then opens the car door and shouts, “Put your hands on the steering wheel. Put your hands on the steering wheel,” as Diaz reaches toward the car’s center console with his right hand.
Velez shoots Diaz before running away from the vehicle.
Diaz can be heard shouting out twice before one of the officers asks his fellow officers, “Are you guys good? Did you shoot?”
Velez then says, “Yeah, I did.”
The officers pulled Diaz out of the car and began performing CPR on him, but he died at a hospital.
Police said Velez shot Diaz because he thought he was reaching for a gun. They later determined that Diaz had thrown drugs out of the window after being shot, but they have not specified what type of drugs they were.
No weapons were found in the car.
The tweet below includes edited video of the shooting; viewer discretion is advised as the material is graphic:
(1/3) Today, in full transparency & accordance with department policy, the Orlando Police Department is releasing body worn camera video of the officer-involved shooting that occurred on 7/3, in the area of Jefferson St. & North Orange Ave., resulting in the death of Derek Diaz. pic.twitter.com/3pjI1vjJZ3
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 12, 2023
Police uploaded each of the officer’s bodycam videos to the agency’s YouTube page, which you can access by clicking here.
Orlando police Chief Eric Smith provided Channel 9 with a statement Wednesday, saying in part:
“Our officers proactively patrol to remove illegal drugs and crime guns off our streets. At the intersection of this incident, there were 431 incidents in the last 18 months. Earlier this morning, the Orlando Police Department met with the Diaz family and their attorney to show them the body worn camera video before it was released publicly. I express my sincere condolences to the Diaz family on the loss of their loved one. We understand the need for answers. Maintaining the integrity of the investigation process is also needed so that the facts are provided fairly and transparently. An investigation not only involves body worn camera video of the incident but also includes the collection of witness testimony, evidence and other materials.”
Read: Police identify man killed in downtown Orlando officer-involved shooting
The agency said it is cooperating with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as it investigates the shooting.
Velez, who has been employed by the agency for three years, will be on paid administrative leave during the investigation, which is standard protocol.
Diaz’s relatives and their attorney, Natalie Jackson, spoke publicly after watching the video. Click here to read about that.
Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates to this developing story.
See a map of the shooting scene below:
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