Body-cam video doesn't clarify who fired first in fatal Sanford officer-involved shooting

Body-camera video from three Sanford police officers show the moments that the officers opened fire on a man last month, killing him.

Police responded to a domestic disturbance at a home at 414 Goldsboro Ave. on March 27 and confronted Juan Carlos Romero in the front doorway.

Because of a state law that restricts access to police camera footage, WRAL News had to obtain a court order to obtain a copy of the video. A judge signed the order Wednesday, and WRAL showed the video to Romero's family as well.

Each of the officers can be heard during the videos telling Romero repeatedly to drop his gun and show his right hand, which is hidden by the door frame.

There are a few seconds of rapid gunfire, and Romero is on the floor.

The officers names haven't formally been released, but the names attached to the body-cam video files are Cotten, Hauser and Taylor.

Following a public records request by WRAL News, Sanford police said Matthew Cotten, Matthew Hauser and Nicholas Taylor were on duty the night of the shooting.

Cotten, 29, and Taylor, 25, have each been with the Sanford Police Department for three years. Hauser, 29, worked for the department from January 2013 to November 2016 and then rejoined the department in February. The department hasn't taken any disciplinary action against any of them.

It's unclear in the video who fired the first shot.

Police say Romero did, pointing to a still frame that shows a streak of light to the left of Romero, which police said was fire from the barrel of a gun.

Romero's relatives, some of whom were in tears as they watched the video, said they were there the night of the shooting and insist that he didn't have a gun in his hand.

"It's hard to see a family member get shot," said Marco Ruiz, a nephew of Romero's. "He should never have got shot, because I was there and I [saw] it. He didn't shoot at them."

Before police arrived, however, the family acknowledges that Romero shot his daughter.

Ana Alvarado, 19, was shot in the back during a family dispute. Her brother, Adoniram Nava, said he believes he was Romero's intended target and that his sister was shot by mistake.

The family says Romero is originally from Mexico, and in his home country, he goes by the name Rafael Yepez.

They say they have hired an attorney and think the three officers should face criminal charges.

The State Bureau of Investigation is still reviewing the shooting, and the three officers remain on administrative duty.

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El video de la cámara no aclara quién disparó primero en el tiroteo fatal relacionado con el oficial de Sanford

El video de la cámara de cuerpo de tres policías de Sanford muestran los momentos en que los agentes abrieron fuego contra un hombre el mes pasado, matándolo.

La policía respondió a un disturbio doméstico en una casa en 414 Goldsboro Ave. el 27 de marzo y confrontó a Juan Carlos Romero en la entrada principal.

Debido a una ley estatal que restringe el acceso a imágenes de cámaras de la policía, WRAL News tuvo que obtener una orden judicial para obtener una copia del video. Un juez firmó la orden el miércoles y WRAL también mostró el video a la familia de Romero.

Cada uno de los oficiales puede ser escuchado durante los videos -los nombres de los oficiales no han sido publicados, pero los nombres en los tres archivos del video son Cotten, Hauser y Taylor- y le dicen a Romero que suelte su arma repetidamente y muestre su mano derecha, que está escondida en el marco de la puerta.

Hay unos pocos segundos de disparos rápidos, y Romero está en el piso.

No está claro en el video quién disparó el primer disparo.

La policía dice que Romero lo hizo, señalando un cuadro inmóvil que muestra un rayo de luz cerca de la mano izquierda de Romero, que según la policía fue fuego del cañón de una pistola.

Los familiares de Romero dijeron que estaban allí la noche del tiroteo e insisten en que no tenía un arma en la mano.

"Es dificíl de ver un miembro de la familia dispararse," dice Marco Ruiz, el sobrino de Romero. "No debería occurir."

Sin embargo, antes de que llegara la policía, la familia reconoce que Romero le disparó a su hija.

Ana Alvarado, de 19 años, recibió un disparo en la espalda durante una disputa familiar. Su hermano, Adoniram Nava, dijo que él cree que él era el objetivo de Romero y que su hermana recibió un disparo por error.

La familia dice que Romero es originario de México, y en su país natal, se llama Rafael Yepez.

Dicen que han contratado a un abogado y piensan que los tres oficiales deberían enfrentar cargos criminales.

El Buró de Investigaciones del Estado todavía está revisando el tiroteo, y los tres oficiales siguen en funciones administrativas.