The family of a young woman who lost her life during a police shooting outside a Wynwood nightclub has taken legal action against multiple parties, including the city of Miami, two police officers, a security firm, and the venue where the tragedy unfolded.
Evelyn Valdes, just 28 years old, was celebrating her birthday on June 14, 2025, when she was fatally struck by police gunfire while sitting in the back seat of an SUV. According to the federal lawsuit filed by her mother, Kristy Dee Garcia, the young woman was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire during an altercation outside the Electric Lady nightclub.
The complaint accuses Miami Police Department Sergeant Javier Herbello and Officer Dorian Acosta of firing approximately 10 to 11 rounds across a crowded street without issuing any verbal warnings or attempting to de-escalate the situation. The lawsuit further alleges that emergency response was dangerously slow, with approximately 34 minutes passing between the initial 911 call and Valdes’ arrival at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s trauma center, located just over a mile from the scene.
Beyond the officers, the lawsuit targets VIP Management Team Corp., operating as VIP Security Florida, for allegedly failing to properly screen patrons for weapons and prevent the altercation from escalating. The nightclub’s parent company is also named as a defendant for inadequate supervision of its security contractor.
The legal filing references previous Department of Justice investigations into the Miami Police Department, alleging a pattern of excessive force and delayed investigations into officer-involved shootings. The Valdes family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with a jury trial, though no specific monetary amount has been disclosed.
