MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — The family of a UPS driver killed during a 2019 police shootout returned to the courtroom Wednesday as prosecutors and defense attorneys presented a mix of witness testimony and evidence.
Jurors are revisiting the events of Dec. 5, 2019, when an armed robbery at a Coral Gables jewelry store ended in a high-speed chase and gunfire between law enforcement and two suspects.
The shootout left four people dead, including UPS driver Frank Ordonez, 27, who authorities said had been taken hostage inside his truck.
The state began its third day of testimony with photographs of vehicles struck by gunfire. In total, 87 bullet strikes were documented from that day — 72 of them on the UPS truck.
“Pretty much all over the truck,” a witness said as prosecutors showed images in court.
An FBI forensic examiner told jurors that, based on his review, none of the bullets appeared to have originated from inside the UPS truck. However, he said he could not be definitive about shots fired through the windshield because of the shattered glass.
“They originated from the driver’s side rear of the vehicle,” the examiner said.
A driver who was near the scene also testified about the chaos as the gunfire erupted.
“When I heard things happen, I realized I was in a dangerous situation,” the witness said. “I did see them fire first, the people in the UPS truck.”
Prosecutors countered that the driver was not in a position to see the first shots clearly.
The defense also called a jewelry store employee who was working when suspects Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Hill stormed into the Coral Gables store armed.
“I will never forget that day. I can tell you the hour,” she said.
She was grazed by a bullet and testified that a piece of metal got lodged in her neck, requiring surgery.
“I’ve been robbed before in South America, but this was different,” she told the jury. “I was hurt, I was bleeding and this guy was crazy, walking back and forth.”
Court proceedings were briefly delayed Wednesday morning as some additional witnesses prepared to testify via Zoom. More testimony is expected later in the day.
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