MIAMI — Newly released surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News on Friday is shedding new light on the moments before a fatal police shooting in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood as the family of an innocent bystander killed in the gunfire files a federal wrongful death lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, accuses the city of Miami, two Miami police officers, a private security company and the Electric Lady nightclub of “negligence and excessive force” in the June 14, 2025, shooting that killed 28-year-old Evelyn Valdes.
Valdes had been celebrating her birthday and was sitting in the back seat of a Mazda SUV leaving the nightclub when she was struck by what the lawsuit alleges was a stray bullet fired by police.
Surveillance video shows two men engaged in what appears to be a physical altercation outside the nightclub.
One of the men, later identified by authorities as 30-year-old Norman Lindo, can be seen holding a handgun. Seconds later, two Miami police officers open fire, firing approximately 10 to 11 rounds, according to the lawsuit. Authorities did not say if Lindo fired any shots in the incident.
Investigators said Lindo was killed by police gunfire. Attorney’s allege that Valdes also died after being struck by police gunfire, and two other people were injured.
“He (Lindo) was in an altercation that involved pushing and shoving,” attorney Ramon Rasco, who represents Valdes’ family, said while speaking to Local 10.
“Another bullet grazed, hit the vehicle and grazed another passenger, and a fourth bullet hit the hand of the general manager of the club,” Rasco added.
The lawsuit names the city of Miami, Sgt. Javier Herbello, Officer Dorian Acosta, VIP Management Team Corp., doing business as VIP Security Florida, and 144 NW 23rd Street Group LLC, which operates Electric Lady, as defendants.
According to the complaint, the officers fired across a crowded street without warning or attempting to de-escalate the confrontation.
The lawsuit also alleges the security company failed to properly screen patrons for weapons or prevent the confrontation from escalating and that the nightclub failed to adequately supervise its security contractor.
“As far as we’re concerned a completely avoidable incident, there were multiple opportunities to intervene, deescalate before the officers enlisted deadly force,” attorney Angelo Martin said.
Attorneys for Valdes’ family said Lindo displayed a firearm inside the nightclub before the confrontation moved outside. They contend that while the surveillance video shows him holding the gun, he never raised it, aimed it or fired it before officers opened fire.
“So in all four people were shot because of the amount of force these officers used,” Rasco said.
The lawsuit also alleges emergency medical care was delayed, claiming it took approximately 34 minutes from the initial 911 call for Valdes to arrive at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, about 1.3 miles from the shooting scene.
Valdes’ family is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages where applicable, attorney fees and a jury trial. It does not specify the amount of compensation being sought.
The city of Miami and the other defendants had not filed responses to the lawsuit as of Friday.
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