ORLANDO, Fla. — On Thursday the Florida Department of Law Enforcement cleared an Orlando police officer in the deadly shooting of an innocent women.
The shooting happened last August at the Vixen Bar in downtown Orlando.
Maria Godinez was killed by a stray bullet when the officer fired at bar patron Kody Roach after people reported that Roach had a gun.
The family settled with the police department.
Channel 9 obtained surveillance video Friday that was taken at the bar on the night of the shooting.
FDLE officials said it was the video that helped clear the officer.
One camera inside the bar showed Roach in an altercation with police.
A camera from a pizza shop next door gave an even better view of the incident, which happened in the early morning hours last Aug. 19.
According to police, witnesses said Roach was in the bar only a short time before he started showing his gun to patrons.
Police said that less than 20 minutes later, bar patrons were calling 911.
Roach was forced out of the bar. As police approached Roach, they ordered him to put his hands up. When he refused, police used a stun device on him.
In the video, Roach can be seen still standing and adjusting his clothes. That's when Officer Ed Sanguino fired nine times as he backed away from Roach.
Another police officer can be seen getting struck by one of the ricocheting bullets.
According to investigators, six of the bullets fired by Sanguino hit Roach, who survived the shooting.
Godinez tried to hide under a staircase during the incident, but was struck by one bullet that passed through a wall.
According to police, it was 36 seconds from the time officers showed up at the bar until the shooting.
Godinez's family said firing nine shots was too many.
Law enforcement expert Chuck Drago said it might have been.
"They just don't seem to be measuring up the situation like they should," Drago said.
A camera from a pizza shop next door gave an even better view of the incident, which happened in the early morning hours last Aug. 19.
According to police, witnesses said Roach was in the bar only a short time before he started showing his gun to patrons.
Police said that less than 20 minutes later, bar patrons were calling 911.
Roach was forced out of the bar. As police approached Roach, they ordered him to put his hands up. When he refused, police used a stun device on him.
In the video, Roach can be seen still standing and adjusting his clothes. That's when Officer Ed Sanguino fired nine times as he backed away from Roach.
Another police officer can be seen getting struck by one of the ricocheting bullets.
According to investigators, six of the bullets fired by Sanguino hit Roach, who survived the shooting.
Godinez tried to hide under a staircase during the incident, but was struck by one bullet that passed through a wall.
According to police, it was 36 seconds from the time officers showed up at the bar until the shooting.
Godinez's family said firing nine shots was too many.
Law enforcement expert Chuck Drago said it might have been.
"They just don't seem to be measuring up the situation like they should," Drago said.
Drago said it appeared that the officers, rather than taking cover so they weren't in danger, rushed right at Roach.
"They get themselves in this position and an officer starts firing. Now you have to do what they are doing. They are eating sidewalk," Drago said.
Drago said the officers acted in the best way they know how, but he said that's where things need to change.
Drago said Godinez's death should serve as a lesson for police.
"Sometimes officers get their selves in a position where the actual use of force is legitimate, but how did they get there?" Drago said.
Drago said officers are trained to shoot a few times, assess the situation and shoot again if needed, unless a gun is pointed at them.
He believes that in the incident at the Vixen, a more experienced officer might have done it differently.
"They get themselves in this position and an officer starts firing. Now you have to do what they are doing. They are eating sidewalk," Drago said.
Drago said the officers acted in the best way they know how, but he said that's where things need to change.
Drago said Godinez's death should serve as a lesson for police.
"Sometimes officers get their selves in a position where the actual use of force is legitimate, but how did they get there?" Drago said.
Drago said officers are trained to shoot a few times, assess the situation and shoot again if needed, unless a gun is pointed at them.
He believes that in the incident at the Vixen, a more experienced officer might have done it differently.
Cox Media Group
