ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 A man is on trial for murder, despite never pulling the trigger. On Tuesday, Orange County deputies took the stand to describe what happened when they responded to the scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrop the knife!\u201d That\u2019s the sound heard on Deputy Alex Duran\u2019s body camera, which was shown to the jury.<\/p>\n
Duran told the court he was first to arrive. The prosecutor asked, \u201cWhen you shouted out commands\u2014’drop the knife, drop the knife\u2019\u2014did either of the people inside the apartment take any actions?\u201dDuran replied, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Investigators said deputies were outside looking through a window when they shot and killed Jose Luis Lopez, who was fighting with Cristian Contreras inside.<\/p>\n
Contreras is now facing a felony murder charge because the shooting happened during his alleged break-in at the home where Lopez lived.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw a male being placed in a headlock, and it appeared that it was some type of object pressed against him,\u201d Duran testified. Deputies believed Contreras was in danger.<\/p>\n
Two deputies opened fire. But it was acting supervisor Deputy Paul Ortiz who fired the fatal shot. He told the court, \u201cI saw him holding him with one arm, and the other with what appeared to be a knife to his throat.\u201d No weapon was found.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the decedent holding the other person in what I would describe as a conditional hostage situation,\u201d Ortiz said.<\/p>\n
Orange County Medical Examiner Dr. Soren Jensen testified that Lopez died from a gunshot wound to the head.<\/p>\n
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