DORAL, Fla. – A grieving daughter spoke to Local 10 News on Thursday about her need for justice after her father’s death.
Gabriela Cueli said the shooting death of her father, Osvaldo Cueli, on Nov. 29, outside of their home was unlawful. She recorded a video of her family’s exchange with police officers.
“It feels like I am living a horror movie,” she told Local 10 News’ Christina Vazquez.
Gabriela Cueli said police officers were handcuffing her 19-year-old brother, Osvaldo Cueli III, outside of their house while their father, who had just been shot and was bleeding in their driveway, was still alive despite not being rendered aid.
“No one is helping my dad,” Gabriela Cueli said after the shooting, according to the video.
The Cueli family claims that just before the shooting they had seen two trespassers near Southwest 192nd Street. That’s why 19-year-old Osvaldo and his father initially went to the edge of the property to investigate.
That’s when they said the vehicles that turned out to be unmarked police vehicles showed up.
The 19-year-old Osvaldo told his sister, “Two black Ram trucks pulled up and just started shooting.”
“The whole situation was very scary,” Gabriela Cueli said.
The Cueli family said the plainclothes police officers didn’t identify themselves and Osvaldo Cueli never fired a gun. They claim the bullet holes in the dashboard of one of the vehicles were from an officer firing at them from inside his unmarked unit.
Meanwhile, police officers reported they were responding to a call about a possible stolen vehicle, that there was a confrontation, shots were fired, and a firearm was recovered.
Gabriela Cueli said the video she recorded contradicts everything the police are claiming.
“After he was on the ground, after me and my brother are screaming, is when they are saying they are police,” she said. “This has become our life now, having to seek justice for my father, which he was never doing anything wrong.”
Attorney Robert E. Pertierra, who is representing the Cueli family, sent the notice of intention to bring a lawsuit against Miami-Dade County to several people, including Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and MDPD Director Stephanie Daniels, on Thursday.
Gabriela Cueli said she still relives the trauma of that day on a regular basis.
“The moment when his eyes roll to the back of his head constantly replays in my mind, as I close my eyes, it is the only image I remember of my father,” she said.
Thursday evening, Miami-Dade police responded to Local 10 News’ request for comment with the following statement:
“Miami-Dade Police Department is aware of the Notice of Intent to Bring Claim/Suit regarding the incident on November 29, 2023 where a confrontation ensued and shots were fired. The Department will adhere to established protocol for processing claims against Miami-Dade County. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation for presentation to the State Attorney’s Office, which will be followed by an administrative investigation conducted by the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Professional Compliance Bureau. All evidence relevant to this matter will be preserved.”
Read the letter: