MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has identified the man shot and killed by a deputy outside of an apartment complex in the unincorporated West Little River area on Tuesday.
Officials have also identified the deputy who opened fire as a 23-year veteran of the force.
According to MDSO, Deputy Kelvin Cox shot and killed Kristofer Lazaro Laboy, 24, 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.
Laboy’s father, Augusto, spoke to Local 10 News on Wednesday.
“It’s hard,” he said. “His little brother is taking it hard. The whole family’s taking it hard. His mother’s taking it hard.”
He added, “We raised a genuinely good kid.”
Laboy’s father said his son called him in a panic before the shooting, saying, “Dad, I need help, come help me pick me up, I’m being chased and I don’t know by who.”
“He’s a concealed carry holder,” Laboy’s father said. “He has a gun on him for protection.”
Laboy’s father said he has questions over whether the shooting was necessary and whether his son even knew he was being pulled over by deputies. He said he thinks witnesses and videos will be the key to getting answers.
“We just need people to help us to get to the truth. If the officer’s in the wrong, then he’s in the wrong,” he said. “If my son’s in the wrong, that’s my kid.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting, as is standard procedure, according to MDSO.
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