Overview

• Broward Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra dismissed the case against Officer Jose Mateo, citing Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
• The court found the state did not prove by clear and convincing evidence that Mateo lacked a reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary.
• The Broward State Attorney’s Office says it will appeal the ruling and will continue cases against Officers Rodolfo Mirabal, Richard Santiesteban and Leslie Lee.
• Investigators determined bullets that killed hostage Frank Ordoñez came from multiple officers during a crossfire of more than 200 rounds, and bystander Richard Cutshaw was also killed by police gunfire.
• Mateo remains suspended from the Miami-Dade Police Department; he was not charged in Cutshaw’s death, and other defendants could pursue similar immunity claims.