Miami

Man Who Shot Officer is Now Accused of Plotting That Cop's Murder

A North Miami Beach officer who was shot and injured on the job is speaking out is speaking out after the man who shot him is now accused of plotting his murder.

"My job is to go and run towards the danger, not away from it," said Officer Lino Diaz.

Diaz said he’s known about the threat for a while now and and the North Miami Beach Police Department is now taking extra steps to protect his family and fellow officers.

"You know, I just need to be a little more alert when I go out there," said Diaz, who is back in uniform and reacting to the terrifying allegations.

"Well it is a concern. I'm concerned obviously about my safety, concerned about the safety of my family, concerned about the safety of my colleagues," he said.

Elton Bandoo, the man charged with shooting Diaz, is now out on bond and under house arrest awaiting trial. According to his attorney, a fellow prisoner told prosecutors Bandoo planned to hire a hitman to kill Diaz while behind bars and that he intentionally fired at police back in February.

"We’ve always been a target... kind of the anti-police sentiment that’s out there," Diaz said.

Diaz was shot twice, once in the arm and once in the leg, when he and a SWAT team were serving a Federal search warrant for identity theft and employment fraud at Bandoo’s home. Prosecutors say when they entered, Bandoo started shooting trying to kill Diaz.

"Once they received information about this threat, they took immediate action to ensure my safety," Diaz said.

Bandoo’s attorney tells NBC 6 the informant is a career criminal with little credibility, and maintains Bandoo fired in self defense, believing the officers were fake cops trying to rob him.

Bandoo is due back in court on June 15 for an evidentiary hearing and his attorney says he will be cleared of these allegations. As for Diaz, he says he still has some pain in his arm but he’s grateful to be back on the streets again protecting the public.

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