A Man is Fatally Shot in the Back of the Head when Police go to the Wrong Address
On Sunday, July 23, 2017, police officers with the Southaven, Mississippi, Police Department mistakenly went to the home of 41-year-old Ismael Lopez in search of an assault suspect. There is tremendous controversy regarding what exactly happened when the two officers arrived at the incorrect address. One undisputed fact is that Lopez, a car mechanic, was killed that night. He was allegedly fatally shot by police in the back of the head during the incident. There were shots allegedly fired through the front door. The family of Lopez believes it’s clear that he was running away from the trespassers when he died, in execution style.
The family says that Lopez was sleeping late Sunday night when the tragic scene unfolded. According to the results of an investigation, Lopez allegedly died from a single bullet wound in the back of his head. No report from the coroner’s office has been released, however.
There are several versions of what transpired at the Lopez home. Allegedly, the DeSoto County District Attorney has given several versions of the details of the incident. In one version, the Lopez family did not hear when police officers knocked. They heard their dog barking, however, and Lopez went to investigate.
According to police officers, a pit bull charged them when the front door was opened. They say that they shot and injured the dog. Allegedly, they discovered that Lopez was behind the dog with a gun pointed at them. Officers allegedly commanded Lopez to lower the weapon. When he allegedly failed to comply, they fatally shot him.
What is called into question, in light of this version, is why there were bullet holes in the front door and why Lopez was shot in the back of the head.
The family claims that the two guns that were in the house were nowhere near Lopez’s body.
The investigation is ongoing, but public outrage is growing about this tragic incident in which direct answers from law enforcement agencies don’t seem to align with the evidence.
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–Guest Contributor
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