MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Family members of Kristofer Lazaro Laboy held a news conference Thursday afternoon, demanding answers in the 24-year-old’s shooting death by a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy two days prior.
According to MDSO, Deputy Kelvin Cox, who’s spent more than two decades on the force, shot and killed Laboy outside of a building within the Sunset Palm Villas Association complex, located just outside the Miami city limits at Northwest 85th Street Road and Fourth Court.
According to the agency, the shooting came after deputies with MDSO’s Robbery Intervention Detail tried to pull over a yellow Chevrolet Corvette with dark tints.
Deputies said the driver did not stop and authorities were able to track the sports car to the complex.
Authorities said Laboy, the driver, got out, was armed and Cox shot and killed him at around 5:15 p.m.
“I’m numb inside. I don’t know how to process this. My heart is broken into pieces,” Laboy’s aunt, Marisol Laboy, said.
Another aunt, Maria Elena Laboy, said, “We want justice for Kristofer. He was no damn thug. He was a loving son. Brother. Nephew.”
Laboy’s father said his son called him in a panic that evening and did not know it was law enforcement.
Family members questioned MDSO’s account of the incident, saying they’re begging for video evidence showing the shooting was justified.
“There (are) eyewitnesses we’ve spoken to (who) saw what happened but are afraid to come forward,” Maria Elena Laboy said.
Uncle Anthony Haygood added, “I would like to see the body cam. Let’s verify everything. Let’s get it out there.”
Calling the deputy a “nothing but a trigger-happy bully behind a shield,” Maria Elena Laboy said her nephew “did not deserve this.”
Family members said they will not stop fighting until they see evidence.
“We love (Kristofer) very, very much,” Maria Elena Laboy said. “And if this officer thinks he’s gonna get away with it, he’s got another thing coming.”
In a statement, Steadman Stahl, who leads the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, the union representing MDSO deputies, said in part that Laboy “jumped out of the vehicle and approached (Cox) in an aggressive manner while taking out a firearm,” saying Laboy “ignored police commands to drop the weapon and in fear for his life,” Cox opened fire.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, as is standard procedure.