FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The death penalty phase is now underway for a 22-year-old man who pleaded guilty to shooting and killing a Hollywood police officer in 2021.

Jason Banegas, then 18, shot and killed Officer Yandy Chirino, 28, on Oct. 17, 2021 as he responded to a suspicious person call in the 4000 block of North Hills Drive.

In Broward County court on Tuesday, prosecutors played surveillance video from when Chirino’s best friend, Detective Manuel Rodriguez-Blevins, found Chirino fighting with Banegas.

Another clip showed an officer falling to his knees, throwing his hat and crying hysterically.

Rodriguez-Blevins couldn’t stop crying when asked about his best friend.

“I started checking him, blood coming from different areas,” Rodriguez-Blevins testified.

Banegas sat stone cold in the courtroom as the video played, showing no emotion.

Proceedings were set to continue on Wednesday.

Christina Vazquez

Christina returned to Local 10 in 2019 as a reporter after covering Hurricane Dorian for the station. She is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and previously earned an Emmy Award while at WPLG for her investigative consumer protection segment "Call Christina."

Prosecutors play emotional video in death penalty phase for Hollywood police officer’s killer

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Christina Vazquez