ORLANDO, Fla. — Her car was riddled with bullets as it was parked outside her home during an officer-involved shooting, and she says the police department first told her they wouldn’t cover the damage they caused.
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But that all changed in the last hour.
The woman who owns the 2007 Chevy Tahoe, Alexandra Nuñez, is a single mother of three who wasn’t involved in the incident. She was just parked in the wrong place at the wrong time, and said the city or the Orlando Police Department should pay for the damages.
The city initially denied responsibility. Nuñez said the police officers were very nice and told her they believed the city would pay for it.
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But when she turned to the city, officials said the officers used her SUV as a shield. Risk management told her the officers acted appropriately and at first denied her claim.
The incident happened just before the new year. Orlando police responded to the Vista Verde Apartments for a call about a man with a gun.
Nuñez watched from a nearby apartment as officers opened fire on U.S. Army veteran Steffan Haskins, who they said was attempting to carjack someone.
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“I hit the ground because I don’t know which way the bullets are going,” Nuñez said.
A local dealership quoted her at more than $7,100 to fix the damage.
Late Friday, Nuñez got word that the city reversed its original decision and will now cover her claim for damages.
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The city told Channel 9 it reversed the decision after risk management reviewed the case again and looked at all the information they had.
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