ORLANDO, Fla. – A jury has reportedly awarded $4 million to the family of Alex Bello-Ortiz, an Embry-Riddle student and Air Force cadet whose 2020 shooting death was twice deemed by Daytona Beach police to have been a suicide amid allegations that he was instead shot by his roommate.
“I know the police department is supposed to do there job but they did not do justice for my son. That’s what I’m gonna be looking for. Thank God for the justice in the civil court,” said Alex’s Mother Maria Lourdes Ortiz
Daytona Beach police closed the case for the second time in May 2023, having reopened it after Ortiz’s family brought forth evidence they said would prove Ortiz’s roommate shot him after an argument. The family further alleged Ortiz’s roommate called his father — a retired Air Force captain — for advice on how to dress the scene before ever calling 911, stating as much could be heard on Ring camera recordings.
A weeklong wrongful death trial, which concluded Thursday, stemmed from a federal lawsuit filed in March 2023 by Ortiz’s family against the roommate. It resulted in a jury awarding $4 million to Ortiz’s family, according to a statement.
The complaint alleges that officers and detectives with the Daytona Beach Police Dept. failed to properly investigate the matter, including but not limited to, failing to preserve the crime scene, failing to formally interview either of Bello-Ortiz’s roommates, failing to test their hands for gunshot residue and DNA on the weapon, and allowing the roommates and one of their fathers to clean up the crime scene a few hours after the shooting.
Following Bello-Ortiz’s death, his family diligently followed-up with the Daytona Beach Police Dept. and provided additional, pertinent information and evidence regarding his untimely death. Their pleas were unfortunately not acknowledged and the case was closed.
Statement on behalf Alex Bello-Ortiz's family (excerpt)
Ortiz’s family, supporters and attorneys held a news conference on Friday at the federal courthouse in Orlando to discuss the verdict and to demand a U.S. Justice Department investigation of the conduct of the Daytona Beach Police Department.
“We have a jury verdict that is the correct conclusion. Two people in a house alone, one ends up dead. There’s only one shot and there’s only one shooter,” said Alex Bello-Ortiz Family Attorney Elizabeth Brennan.
The lawsuit names John Burelin as Ortiz’s roommate but after two investigations by Daytona Beach Police Burelin was never criminally charged.
We asked the Ortiz Family about the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation of the conduct of the Daytona Beach Police Department, they say they’re hoping this would lead to a third investigation by Daytona Beach Police into the case.
“Let’s be clear, not a third investigation, a first true investigation into the case. The other two were just opening the case and shutting it down with no investigation,” said Maria Ortiz.
Body camera footage from Daytona Beach police shows officers talking to Burlein back in 2020.
We received the statement from Daytona police on Friday, mentioning that they interviewed Burlein and another roommate that was present during the time of the incident
They say they acknowledge that the scene was not preserved as promptly — which they regret but it didn’t not make any difference in a determination made by the Volusia County medical examiner.
They say there’s no plans to reopen the case however they are willing to work with any state or federal agency that wants to review the matter.
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