|
Deputy Burt Lopez and Deputy Skip York were shot and killed while attempting
to arrest a domestic violence suspect.
The deputies were following up on a domestic assault report they had taken
hours earlier, and located the suspect at a gun club in Crestview. The
suspect was in the parking lot standing next to his truck. Deputy Lopez and
Deputy York approached the suspect, had a brief conversation with him, and
then informed him he was going to be arrested. As the deputies moved to
handcuff the him, he became uncooperative and began to resist arrest. Deputy
York fired his Taser (conducted energy device) and hit the suspect. The
suspect dropped to the ground during the five-second jolt of electricity.
When the Taser cycle ended, the suspect immediately drew a concealed handgun
and opened fire. Deputy Lopez was able to radio for assistance while he and
Deputy York engaged the suspect in a gun battle.
During the exchange of gunfire, Deputy Lopez was mortally wounded. The
suspect then climbed in his truck to escape. Deputy York pulled the
passenger-side door open and jumped inside in an effort to pull the suspect
from the vehicle, but was shot and mortally wounded.
The suspect fled the scene and opened fire at deputies from the Walton
County Sheriff's Department during a vehicle pursuit. The suspect's vehicle
was rammed by deputies, causing it to flip over near the intersection of
U.S. Highway 331 and U.S. 90 in DeFuniak Springs. The suspect exited the
truck, and opened fire at the deputies, who returned fire, killing the
suspect.
Deputies York and Lopez were airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in
Pensacola. They succumbed to their injuries later in the day.
Deputy Lopez had served with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office for six
years. He is survived by his wife and children. |
