MIRAMAR, FLA. (WSVN) - Five years later, family and friends are still grieving two innocent bystanders who were killed in the 2019 shootout in Miramar.
Thursday marked the fifth anniversary of the day 27-year-old Frank Ordonez died in a hostage situation and shootout in Miramar.
“It’s on your mind constantly,” said Joe Merino, Ordonez’s stepfather. “It’s something that doesn’t go away. It’s like a bad dream.”
Thursday night, 7News cameras captured family and friends lighting candles and hanging a photo of Ordonez on a light pole, near the area where he died. His photo was decorated with Christmas lights to celebrate his favorite holiday, along with flowers.
“The past five years have been incredibly hard,” said Genevie.
Authorities said Ordonez was killed in a shootout between the hijackers and police.
Two armed robbery suspects were trying to run from police after robbing a jewelry store in Coral Gables when they hijacked Ordonez’s UPS truck.
Another innocent driver on the road, Richard Cutshaw, was killed during the shootout as well.
“Get down. Hey, easy! Get down, get down,” said a police officer to the suspects.
Authorities confirmed the two suspects were also killed during the shootout.
FBI later identified them as 41-year-old Lamar Alexander and 41-year-old Ronnie Jerome Hill.
In November, 7News released a new video of that violent armed robbery that led to a chase and shootout.
Surveillance video captured at least one of those suspects involved in the robbery at Regent Jewelers in Coral Gables. He appeared to be wearing a mask and pointing a gun.
“Put everything in here. Put everything in that bag, everything in that bag,” said one of the suspects.
Home surveillance video shows Ordonez delivering packages nearby.
The video moments later shows two men approaching the UPS truck and holding Ordonez hostage.
That moment sparked the police pursuit that would sadly end Ordonez and Cutshaw’s lives.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said law enforcement officers fired more than 200 rounds and had been told not to get close to the truck because the suspects were firing.
Since that day, four Miami-Dade County Police officers have been indicted.
FDLE agents stated bullets that hit the UPS driver came from each of those officers.
“Frank is not coming back. We know that,” said Joe. “We knew that the minute he died, he wasn’t coming back, but what we’ve been looking for for five years is justice, and that hasn’t happened yet. We’re reserving that word for when it comes time in a court, and hopefully the court will find them guilty, and then we can use that word, justice.”
“All I want is for him to get justice,” said Genevie Merino, Ordonez’s sister. “I really want him to get justice. I really want to see those four police officers behind bars. And I feel like that will bring me peace, and I feel that would bring my family to peace.”
Ordonez’s mother told 7News in Spanish that she plans to visit the memorial every single year for the rest of her life. She feels an enormous amount of sadness and pain on the anniversary of her son’s death.
UPS drivers were seen paying their respects to Ordonez and hanging a UPS visor on the light pole with a note reading in part, “We will miss you.”
“What really baffles me after five years is that you got a hostage. I’m not a police officer or not a attorney, but I have common sense, and it still baffles me that there was a hostage,” said Joe.
Ordonez’s family wants people to remember Frank for how he lived his life, not how he died.
“He was an amazing person,” said Genevie. “He cared a lot about people. He cared a lot about his kids; his kids were his number one priority. He loved being a dad. He was the best big brother ever, like, I loved him so much.”
The four officers who were indicted have status hearings scheduled for January.
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