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Settlement reached in Orange Co. Corrections lawsuit over home confinement killing

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A settlement has been reached in the wrongful death lawsuit involving a suspect who was on electronic monitoring when he allegedly killed a 19-year-old man during an Orange County home invasion.

Bessman Okafor is accused of fatally shooting Alex Zaldivar in October 2012.

The lawsuit, filed by Zaldivar's father, Rafael Zaldivar, accuses Orange County Corrections of failing to do its job in properly running the GPS monitoring program.

“The whole point of filing a lawsuit is to make sure they get it right and to correct all the issues. The only time you can do that is hit the wallet,” Zalvidar said.

Prosecutors said Okafor was on home confinement when he murdered Zaldivar and injured two others to prevent them from testifying in a home invasion case for which Okafor was later convicted.

Okafor had an ankle monitor on at the time of the killings, and 9 Investigates found he broke curfew several times, including that night.

The settlement, which will pay Zaldivar's estate $100,000, was reached two years to the day of the killings.

The family is working with attorney Jose Baez.

“We’re gonna make some changes and I’m battling right beside Ralph Zalvidar, who is an incredible man,” Baez said.

Victims Brienna and Remington Campos survived after being shot in the home with Zaldivar. Each will get $100,000.

Zalvidar admits no amount of money will bring him peace.

“You cannot put a quote—a dollar figure—on anybody’s life,” he said.

Both Zaldivar and Campos plan to file claims bills with the state Legislature to ask for more money. The county won't object to the claims and will support the request for the families, officials said.

Okafor is serving five concurrent life sentences after being convicted in the home invasion case.