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Kristofer Lázaro Laboy, 24 years old, was identified as the young man who died on Tuesday after being shot by a Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO) officer during a police operation.
His family, deeply distressed, demands justice and has openly questioned the official account provided by the authorities.
Everything started when agents from the MDSO Theft Intervention Team attempted to stop a yellow Corvette with tinted windows that, according to them, was driving with "illegal dark tints."
According to the official version, the driver -Kristofer Laboy- did not stop when ordered to do so, which triggered a chase through several streets in northwest Miami-Dade.
“The pursuit ended in a dead-end alley at Northwest 85th Street and 4th Court”, reported Telemundo 51, citing police sources.
It was there that, they claim, Laboy exited the vehicle "with a gun in hand," and the officer fired.
"Our officer had no choice but to use his service weapon.", stated the MDSO spokesperson, Argemis Colomé.
A weapon was recovered at the scene, near Laboy's body.
A desperate call and lack of police identification
One of the most poignant moments in the family narrative is the phone call Kristofer made to his father during the chase.
In statements to Univision, his father recounted that he received a distressing call: “He called me ‘panicked’: ‘Dad, I need help, pick me up, I’m being chased and I don’t know by whom’... and right then the call dropped.”
Kristofer was being chased by three cars of undercover agents: one white, one red, and one black; they were not patrol cars.
The family claims that Kristofer was unaware he was being pursued by the police.
“The officers never identified themselves”, María Elena Laboy reported.
Images from security cameras obtained by Univision show three undercover vehicles passing down a street behind the young man, but at no point is clear signaling or verbal orders heard.
"In that video, if you listen closely, you won't hear anything. You only hear the car passing by quickly, that's it," explained the father of the deceased.
The family: "That was an execution."
But the family not only disputes this account, but has also publicly come forward to denounce that the police report is riddled with inconsistencies.
In an emotional press conference held this Thursday, and covered by several local media, Laboy's family raised their voices to demand clarity, transparency, and justice.
“That was an execution. And we are going to fight this in court. We are already in talks with lawyers,” his cousin Rubén Lugo stated indignantly.
"My child was well-mannered, loving... they killed him for no reason. The police are not telling the truth," said the grandmother, Gloria Lazo, with a broken voice.
"He was no bully. He was a loving son. Brother. Nephew. We want justice for Kristofer," insisted his aunt, María Elena Laboy.
Another of her aunts, Marisol Laboy, expressed her pain with heartbreaking words: “I am paralyzed inside. I don’t know how to process this. My heart is shattered. I lost one of my babies. I have seven; now I have six. Because of this coward who took his own life.”
Who was Kristofer Laboy?
Laboy was a university student who, according to his family, had no criminal record and did not pose a threat.
The night of the incident, I was just going out with some friends.
“The car was rented. He was going to enjoy it. To live his youth”, his grandmother explained.
"Kristofer was not committing any crime. He did not deserve to die like that," added Anthony Haygood, an uncle of the deceased.
They demand evidence and question the agent's history
Relatives have demanded to see the footage from the body camera of the officer who fired.
“I would like to see the body camera. Let's verify everything. Let's bring it to light!”, stated Anthony Haygood.
"There are witnesses we've spoken to who saw what happened, but they are afraid to come forward," added María Elena Laboy.
The agent involved has been identified as Kelvin Cox, a veteran officer with over 23 years in the police force
However, his history raises concerns. According to NBC Miami, this would be at least the third fatal shooting he has been involved in.
In 2010, Cox shot a man who was trying to flee from a house while they were searching for a robbery suspect.
In 2011, he killed Jamal Singletary, who allegedly fired at officers after stealing a vehicle.
In both cases, the use of force was deemed "justified" and no charges were filed.
In response, María Elena Laboy stated: “This agent is nothing more than a trigger-happy thug hiding behind a badge. My nephew did not deserve this.”
The police union defended the officer.
Steadman Stahl, president of the Benevolent Association of the Police of South Florida, stated that Laboy "jumped out of the vehicle and approached (Cox) aggressively while pulling out a firearm" and "ignored the police orders to drop the weapon, and fearing for his life, [the officer] opened fire."
But for the family, those explanations are not enough.
“I’m fed up with the police always covering up the stories. This has to stop. There are so many shattered families,” denounced Marisol Laboy.
"This could have just been a fine."
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the individual pointed his weapon at the officers.
The spokesperson for the MDSO, Argemis Colomé, deeply lamented the outcome.
“At the end of the day, this was just a routine traffic stop. This could have simply been a ticket, and everyone could have gone home," he said shortly after the tragic incident.
In another statement, Colomé emphasized: “Although none of our agents were injured, this could have been much worse.”
The community demands justice
In front of Kristofer's grandmother's modest house in northwest Miami, family members, friends, and neighbors spontaneously gathered after the young man's death.
They carried flowers, hugs, candles, and a sign with a word that sums up the common feeling: Justice.
The family has already begun contacting lawyers and is preparing for a lengthy legal process. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is in charge of the investigation, and as is customary, the officer has been suspended with pay.
“They took Kristofer from us, but we are not going to remain silent,” warns the grandmother of the deceased young man.
Frequently asked questions about the shooting in Miami-Dade involving Kristofer Laboy
Who was Kristofer Laboy and why was he shot by the police?
Kristofer Lázaro Laboy was a 24-year-old university student who died after being shot by a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Department officer during a police operation. According to authorities, Laboy was the driver of a vehicle that failed to stop when ordered, which led to a pursuit that ended in a dead end. The police claim that Laboy exited the car with a weapon in hand, prompting the officer to fire. However, the family questions this account and demands justice.
What does Kristofer Laboy's family say about the incident?
The family of Kristofer Laboy claims that the officers never identified themselves during the pursuit and that Kristofer was unaware he was being chased by the police. They argue that the police account is filled with inconsistencies and have described the incident as an execution. The family has begun reaching out to lawyers to seek justice in court.
What are the doubts regarding the actions of the officer involved in the shooting?
The involved agent, Kelvin Cox, has a troubling history. He has been involved in at least two previous fatal shootings, both deemed justified. Laboy's family is demanding to see the footage from the agent's body camera to clarify the events. The case is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
What measures are the authorities taking after the shooting?
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is responsible for investigating the shooting. The involved officer has been placed on paid leave, a standard procedure in these cases. Authorities are reviewing all available evidence, including security camera footage and witness statements, to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
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