An Orlando man shot by police outside a downtown bar last week has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a bystander who was killed by police gunfire, reports the city’s Sentinel. Kody Roach, 23, was shot and wounded by police outside the bar on Aug. 19 by officers responding to a 911 call of a “gun-wielding maniac.” Roach survived, but bystander Maria Fernanda Godinez, 22, apparently struck by a shot from Officer Eduardo Sanguino’s gun, was killed.
An arrest affidavit states, “As a result of Roach’s actions, an individual was killed therefore probable cause exists to further charge Roach with first-degree felony murder.” Sanguino and a fellow officer, Jeff Angel, were reponding to 911 reports that Roach had opened fire at the club. They found Roach at the bar’s locked door. He reportedly pointing his right hand at the officers. Sanguino fired nine shots, striking Roach at least five times. As he fell, Roach dropped a .40 caliber Ruger handgun, which proved to be unloaded.