As a somber anniversary passes, the family of slain UPS driver Frank Ordonez still clamors for accountability. Ordonez, taken hostage and killed during a police shootout in Miramar four years ago, remains a haunting symbol of a pursuit gone tragically awry—a standoff that not only claimed his life but also left a bystander dead and no police held responsible.
According to a CBS News Miami report, the family's plea for justice resounded at the intersection of Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road, where candles were lit and balloons set afloat in remembrance of the 27-year-old father, whose untimely death left behind two daughters. Merino, Ordonez’s stepfather, emphasized their plight: "Justice right now is not in our vocabulary because we lost a civil suit and appeal... and we are waiting on a grand jury that hasn't given us a date. So, there's no justice, as far as we're concerned."
Ordonez was mortally caught in the crossfire, along with 70-year-old Richard Cutshaw, when a robbery at a Coral Gables jewelry store escalated into a high-speed chase, culminating in a shootout that involved around 200 bullets fired by police, as The Sun Sentinel detailed. The two robbers, Lamar Alexander and Jerome Hill, also died in the violent exchange.
Joe Merino, who spoke of the officers that "went home that night," lamented to The Sun Sentinel, "Frank never made it home to his two girls," underscoring a contrasting fate between the law enforcers and the victims. While former investigations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement turned over findings to the Broward State Attorney's Office, resolution has been elusive, prompting Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor to acknowledge the grim anniversary with a statement of commitment for "a thorough, honest review of the facts."
Compounding the family’s frustration, a lawsuit aimed at the police was dismissed last year, with the Sun Sentinel detailing Merino's criticism about the handling of the situation: "It wasn’t handled properly," accusing the police that they "went rogue."
