October 16, 2018

Action Alert:
Call for Charges Against Pro-Gun Activist who Killed Shoplifter


Update: A grand jury indicted Michael Dunn on a charge of second-degree murder on October 19, 2018. Second-degree murder is a felony offense that carries a sentence of up to life in prison.  According to the police report, when officers asked Dunn would would have happened if he simply let go of Christobal Lopez and allowed him to exit the store, he replied, “It might be fair to say, that if I just stepped back and let somebody come in and take what they want, that there would be no issue!” Police concluded Dunn killed Lopez “without lawful justification.” Thanks to everyone who took this action and called for charges!


Lakeland City (Florida) commissioner and pro-gun activist Michael Dunn, 47, shot and killed Christobal Lopez, 50, on October 3, 2018 as Lopez allegedly shoplifted a hatchet from Dunn’s Vets Army Navy Surplus store.

Surveillance video clearly shows Dunn holding Lopez as he attempts to get out the door.

Surveillance video of the shooting shows Lopez hiding something under his shirt and attempting to get by Dunn to leave the store. Holding a pistol in his right hand, Dunn grabs Lopez’s shirt with his left to try to prevent him for getting out the door. When Dunn loses his grip and Lopez is about to get outside, Dunn shoots him in the midsection, killing him. Lopez can be seen holding something in his right hand as he falls to the ground, but it is unclear what it is and he made no effort to point it at Dunn. Lopez died outside the store in the critical minutes that it took police to arrive. Dunn made no effort to administer first aid to him.

Despite these facts, no charges have been filed against Dunn. Lopez’s listed address is Grace Marketplace, a homeless service organization in Gainesville, Florida. He has previous convictions for shoplifting.

This is not the first time Dunn has shot someone. The Lakeland Ledger reported that Dunn “accidentally” shot and injured a man when he was 19. Dunn was also in the local news for leading a counterprotest to a March for Our Lives rally in the summer of 2018. Dunn’s pro-gun counterprotest was staged at Vets Army Navy Surplus.

Please contact Lakeland Police Department Chief Larry Giddens and State Attorney Brian Haas through one of the channels below with the following message (personalized to your liking):

Please bring charges against Michael Dunn for shooting and killing Christobal Lopez at Vets Army Navy Surplus store on October 3, 2018. Surveillance video clearly shows Dunn was the aggressor, grabbing Lopez by the left arm as Lopez attempted to get by him and exit the store. No reasonable observer would say Dunn could have believed he was at risk of “imminent death or great bodily harm.” All Dunn had to do was let go of Lopez and close/lock the store door! Then he could have called 911 and reported this (alleged) petty crime.  He shot Lopez because he wanted to, and as immoral and sick as Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” is, it doesn’t give him protection in this case. If Dunn wants to claim the SYG defense in a pre-trial hearing, so be it. Your job is to arrest Dunn, bring homicide charges, and do your best to get this case before a jury so it can be fairly considered. We don’t punish petty criminals in America by executing them, sir. Bring charges. I will be watching your actions closely. 

Lakeland Police Department Chief Larry Giddens
Phone: (863) 834-6907
Email: Larry.Giddens@lakelandgov.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakelandPD/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LakelandPD

State Attorney Brian Haas
Phone: (863) 802-6240
Email via webform: https://www.sao10.com/contact-us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAO10Florida/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SAO10Florida

Once you have contacted chief Giddens and state attorney Haas, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!


This is an action alert, NOT an online petition. Please take the action before filling out the fields below.

113 people have taken this action