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Shocking bodycam footage shows Miami cops opening fire at an armed suspect on a street packed with nightclub revelers — and accidentally killing a woman celebrating her birthday.
The video shows Evelyn Valdes, 28, behind the wheel of her SUV when she was struck and killed by a stray bullet as officers shot 14 times at Norman Lindo, who was carrying a handgun while pushing people out of his way in the Florida city’s popular Wynwood neighborhood on June 14, 2025.
It was released Monday as prosecutors cleared the officers of any wrongdoing — enraging Valdes’ relatives, who call it a “cover-up” and are suing the Miami Police Department.
“They shot because they were scared for their lives and lives of civilians — but what about my daughter?” Valdes’ mother, Kristy Garcia, asked WTVJ-TV.
“My daughter was a civilian, too, and they killed her, not the suspect, so I’m angry,” the grieving mom said.
“It’s definitely a cover-up, and it’s sad that the system has failed us.”
Valdes’ family says that while the video shows that the suspect, Lindo, was armed, it also shows that he was not enough of an imminent threat to fire so many shots in a crowded area with cars and pedestrians. Lindo was also killed.
“It’s very clear from multiple angles and footage that the firearm was never pointed at anyone, his arm was fully extended to the ground,” said Jose Valdes, Evelyn’s brother.
“They’re definitely trying to cover up something, they’re definitely trying to find a way to protect these officers that were involved.”
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The video prompted lawyers for Valdes’ family to amend a lawsuit against the Miami Police Department.
“Yes, there was an individual with a gun, but the videos show they started shooting at him without using any de-escalatory tactics, they did not ask him to drop his weapon, to put down his weapon, to cease and desist,” their lawyer, Ray Rasco, said at a Wednesday press conference.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office reportedly wrote in its closeout memo for the case that two of the cops did order Lindo to “drop his weapon.” There is no audio of the interaction on the new footage because the officers’ body cam was on mute until after the shots were fired, officials told the station.
“They could have used a Taser; without asking any questions, without making any statements, they started shooting,” Rasco said.
The Miami Police Department did respond to the outlet, citing the pending litigation.
