Tragic events unfolded in Miramar five years ago, resulting in the deaths of a UPS driver and three others. The day started with an armed robbery in Coral Gables, where surveillance footage captured one of the suspects, Ronnie Hill, storming Regent Jewelers with a gun. After firing a shot that injured an employee, Hill forced the staff to empty the jewelry cases into a bag before fleeing.
As Hill and his accomplice escaped, they encountered 27-year-old Frank Ordonez, the UPS driver, who was making a delivery nearby. The suspects hijacked Ordonez’s truck with him still inside, leading to a police pursuit spanning over 30 miles from Coral Gables to Miramar. The chase ended in a fatal shootout that claimed the lives of both suspects and Ordonez.
During the pursuit, law enforcement officials fired over 200 rounds at the hijacked UPS truck, despite being warned that the suspects were armed and shooting at the police. Tragically, some of the bullets hit Ordonez and another driver, Richard Cutshaw, at a crossroads in Miramar. As a result of the chaotic events at the intersection, four Miami-Dade officers were indicted.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) report revealed that all the bullets that struck Ordonez came from the officers. The four officers are now facing manslaughter charges and have pleaded not guilty. Despite being out on bond, they await their next legal steps as the case unfolds.
The release of the surveillance footage sheds light on the tragic chain of events that unfolded on that fateful day in Miramar. The community continues to mourn the loss of the UPS driver and the other innocent victims caught in the crossfire. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face in high-stress situations and the importance of proper training and protocols in such scenarios.
