On February 13th, 2020, Abel Lopez-Lopez and his wife S.L. were involved in a day-long argument due to allegations of inappropriate sexual contact between Lopez-Lopez and one of S.L.’s younger children. The child victim had reported the abuse the day before, but S.L. had suspected it for several months. After the child reported the abuse to a teacher, the Sparks Police Department (SPD) initiated an investigation into the allegations.
Later that evening, SPD patrol officers and other law enforcement officers were alerted to a possible hostage situation. S.L.’s 16-year-old daughter, T.G., called 911 after receiving text messages from S.L., stating that Lopez-Lopez was threatening to kill her. T.G. reported that Lopez-Lopez was armed with a gun and was holding S.L. against her will. Responding officers were informed that Lopez-Lopez had placed a pistol on the dash of the vehicle they were in, and that he was known to carry a pistol with him at all times.
Initially, officers were dispatched to locate S.L. and Lopez-Lopez at the Sparks Nugget Casino, where S.L. was temporarily staying. However, they were unable to find them there. Using a phone ping, officers determined that S.L.’s phone was in an area north of the Park Vista Apartments. T.G. also provided officers with the address of an apartment belonging to the couple, which led them to 565 Sparks Boulevard #197, the Park Vista Apartments.
Based on the phone ping and T.G.’s information, SPD officers and officers from the Reno Police Department (RPD) Regional Gang Unit (RGU) responded to the Park Vista Apartments. The first officers on the scene confirmed Lopez-Lopez’s presence in apartment number 197 and began to formulate a response plan.
An Emergency Action Team (E.A.T.) was established, consisting of SPD Officer Dustin Beauford, SPD Officer Brett Zolkos, RPD Officer Chris Rose, SPD Officer Bryan Yee, and SPD Officer Daniel Jones. The team, including members of the S.W.A.T. teams, positioned themselves near the apartment door, treating the situation as an active hostage situation.
While staged at the door, the officers tried to gather intelligence by listening for sounds of violence and determining the number of people inside the apartment. They heard sounds in the kitchen, including a male coughing and people talking aggressively, but no sounds of violence.
At approximately 2055 hours, S.L. abruptly opened the door and quickly slammed it shut. Officer Beauford responded by trying to kick the door open while yelling “Sparks Police.” When that didn’t work, he turned the knob and opened the door. The officers entered the apartment and saw S.L. raising her hands and moving away from them into the kitchen. Lopez-Lopez was directly behind S.L. and Officer Beauford ordered him to show his hands.
Lopez-Lopez responded by raising a gun from within a black bag and appeared to square his body into a shooting stance. In a confrontation that lasted approximately five seconds, officers Beauford, Jones, and Rose discharged their firearms after perceiving threats. Officer Beauford fired two rounds from his patrol rifle, Officer Jones fired one round from his service pistol, and Officer Rose fired one round from his shotgun. Lopez-Lopez was struck multiple times and pronounced deceased on the scene.
After the shooting, officers quickly grabbed S.L. and rushed her out of the apartment. She was transported to a medical center for evaluation and treatment, claiming that Lopez-Lopez had poisoned her.
Following the incident, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) was assigned as the lead investigative agency, with RPD assigned as the secondary investigating agency. The WCSO conducted a thorough investigation, including reviewing reports, documents, witness interviews, photographs, body-worn camera footage, and an examination of the scene. The investigation and all related evidence were submitted to the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the shooting was justified under Nevada law.
After reviewing over 1000 pages of evidence, the District Attorney concluded that the shooting of Abel Lopez-Lopez was not a criminal act. The officers involved were found to have acted in accordance with the applicable legal authorities and the available evidence.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in responding to potential hostage situations. The officers involved acted swiftly and decisively to protect the safety of S.L. and themselves. However, it is a tragic outcome that Lopez-Lopez lost his life in the confrontation.
The investigation and subsequent determination by the District Attorney provides transparency and accountability in these types of incidents. It ensures that the actions of law enforcement are thoroughly reviewed to determine if they were justified under the law. This process helps maintain trust and confidence in the criminal justice system.
It is important to recognize the difficult decisions that law enforcement officers often have to make in high-pressure situations. Their primary goal is to protect the public and ensure public safety. While unfortunate, sometimes the use of force becomes necessary to achieve these objectives.
Overall, the shooting of Abel Lopez-Lopez was deemed not a criminal act based on the available evidence and legal authorities. The officers involved followed proper protocols and responded appropriately to the perceived threat. The thorough investigation and review process undertaken by the District Attorney’s Office provides reassurance to the community that the actions of law enforcement officers are subject to scrutiny and accountability.
