MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy has been cleared of wrongdoing after he fatally shot a shoplifting suspect at a Walmart in the county’s Goulds area, Local 10 learned Thursday.

According to a closeout memo from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Deputy Wilfredo Ortega was “legally justified” in shooting Kennedy Graham, who battered Ortega and resisted arrest before fleeing from the deputy while holding a gun.

The shooting occurred back on Nov. 6, 2025, outside a Walmart in the area of Southwest 211th Street and South Dixie Highway.

According to authorities, Ortega, who was patrolling the area at the time, was alerted around 7:15 a.m. about a subject inside the store who was allegedly stealing merchandise.

Detectives said Graham, 36, ran away from the deputy, and the two got into a physical altercation just outside the store’s front doors.

Surveillance video shows that Graham dropped a black handgun during the struggle with the deputy and then picked it up before running away.

Ortega then fired at Graham, striking him.

Authorities said Ortega rendered aid to Graham until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel arrived.

Paramedics transported Graham to a local hospital, where he died.

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz told the media after the shooting that Graham had an “extensive criminal past.”

Earlier this year, Local 10 News spoke with Graham’s sister, who said she believes the shooting was unjustified. She said video of the incident shows her brother running away from the deputy and does not clearly show that he was carrying a gun.

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