A vigil was held Sunday on the second anniversary of the killing of a UPS driver who was taken hostage by two jewelry heist suspects and then got caught in the crossfire of a shootout between the suspects and police.
In the two years since the 2019 shootout that took the life of Frank Ordonez, his family said they are still grappling with reality.
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“It's been really hard to process everything and that he’s not here anymore. It’s very hard for me,” sister Genevieve Mariano said. “My brother passed away when I was 15-years-old. I was a child.”
Marino was comforted by others at the vigil held at the intersection of Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road, where Ordonez was shot and killed.
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“We’re here to remember him and we’ll be here every year to support our friends and coworkers supporting us and helping us in the grief we carry everyday,” said Joe Marino, Ordonez’s step-father.
Ordonez, 27, was the driver of a UPS truck that was hijacked following an armed robbery at a Coral Gables store on Dec. 5, 2019.
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The two suspects who hijacked the truck led authorities on a chase from Miami-Dade and into Broward. The truck made its way through Pembroke Pines and Miramar with dozens of officers in pursuit. Officials said the suspects fired at officers while trying to evade authorities.
When the truck stopped in traffic at a light near Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road, the suspects opened fire on officers, which resulted in an exchange of gunfire between law enforcement and the suspects, George Piro of the FBI said in a news conference after the incident.
Along with Ordonez, Rick Cutshaw, 70, was also caught in the crossfire and died. Suspects Ronnie Bell and Lamar Alexander were killed as well.
Investigators determined 20 law enforcement officers from several agencies opened fire.
The Ordonez family has filed suit against six agencies claiming negligence.
