Former Lakeland commissionerâs âstand your groundâ bid to dismiss murder charge denied
The three-judge appeals panel concurred with the trial judgeâs ruling that Dunnâs fatal shooting of Christobal Lopez was not justified under Floridaâs âstand your groundâ law.
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Lakeland police say that former Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn shot and killed Christobal Lopez as Lopez tried to leave the Vets Army Navy Surplus store on Oct. 3, 2018, without paying for a hatchet. This is a screen grab of a store surveillance video released by police.
By Gary White, The Ledger
Published Yesterday
Updated Earlier today
The three-judge panel from Floridaâs Second District Court of Appeal denied a request from Dunnâs lawyers to halt his prosecution under a âstand your groundâ claim. Dunn, 49, faces a charge of second-degree murder in the 2018 fatal shooting of a man inside the Lakeland store where Dunn worked as a manager.