LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn had his first court appearance Saturday morning after being charged with second-degree murder.
- Lakeland Commissioner Michael Dunn held without bond
- Dunn charged with 2nd-degree murder
- Dunn shot, killed Christobal Lopez at his store on Oct. 3
- Lopez was accused of shoplifting
Citing an order signed by a Polk County chief judge, Judge Bob Grode said Dunn would be held without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 6 at 8:15 a.m.
Dunn was arrested Friday night, more than two weeks after the fatal shooting on October 3.
On that day, he shot an alleged shoplifter at his store, called Vets Army Navy Surplus, in Lakeland.
According to the arrest affidavit, 50-year-old Christobal Lopez put a hatchet down his pants from a display in the store. A witness recalled Lopez saying he would pay for it after it fell from his pants and he was confronted by Dunn.
The incident was caught on surveillance video. In this footage, Dunn tries to grab Lopez as he’s leaving the store. Dunn then opens fire.
The store was closed on Saturday, but a frequent customer stopped by. The woman, who didn’t want to provide her name, said she believes there’s more to what happened than what can be seen in the video.
“This is not his first rodeo. I’ve been in the store when he’s apprehended shoplifters before. So something had to have happened,” the woman said.
In the affidavit investigators wrote, “at no time did the victim appear to have made any threatening movements toward the suspect.” The document goes on to say Dunn stated he was in fear. When asked what would have happened if he had let go of the victim, Dunn said, “It might be fair to say, that if I just stepped back and let somebody come in and take what they want, that there would be no issue.”
The document says Dunn admitted shooting Lopez twice. Investigators say he never tried to help Lopez once he was on the ground.
Lakeland’s city manager tells Spectrum Bay News 9 that city officials will be meeting with their legal team to determine what will happen next within the commission.