The family of a 26-year-old father who was shot and killed by an Orlando police officer is seeking “justice” for what they believe was an instance of “police brutality and poor police training.”
Derek Diaz was shot and killed by an Orlando Police Department officer near the intersection of N Orange Avenue and Jefferson Street in downtown Orlando in the early morning hours of Monday, July 3.
In a statement issued through various social media outlets and a GoFundMe campaign, Yaneri Diaz, who is Derek’s mother, accused local police of being “trigger happy,” suggesting they are on “high alert” due to recent changes in Florida
“My son died alone at the hospital. Derek did not have a weapon on him, he has never owned or possessed a firearm in his life,” reads a statement issued by Yaneri Diaz, the mother of Diaz. “Derek is yet another victim of police brutality and poor police training.”
During a press conference hours after the fatal shooting, Orlando Police Department Chief Eric Smith provided details regarding the incident, which took place at approximately 1:52 a.m. on Monday morning.
According to Smith, officers were doing proactive patrol in that particular downtown area on account of it being a “hotspot for criminal activity.” Smith says officers have seized multiple guns over the last several months in that area and had established probable cause for Diaz, who they believed was involved in drug activity.
Police say Diaz disobeyed commands given by an officer and “made a movement as if to retrieve a gun,” before he was shot and killed. The officer involved in the shooting was not injured and is currently on paid administrative leave.
According to Orlando Police Department officials, the investigation has been passed along to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A media request for additional details was directed to FDLE on Wednesday.
According to his mother, Diaz was 26 years old and leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter and a younger brother.
“My heart is torn apart; I lost my best friend, my everything, my entire world in the hands of people that are supposed to protect us, not kill innocent people,” said Ms. Diaz.
A records search through Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake county court databases showed no criminal history for Diaz, who turned 26 years old in February.
“There is another boy whose going to grow up without their brother and another mother who lost her child. We need justice! Please share, please talk about it,” reads the statement from Ms. Diaz.
To contribute to Derek Diaz’s funeral costs, visit the GoFundMe that has been established in his name.