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The family of a young father shot and killed by police in Southern California has filed a lawsuit against the Hemet Police Department. The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. on East Florida Avenue, where officers confronted 26-year-old Lopez, leading to a fatal shooting. Authorities later revealed that Lopez was carrying an airsoft pistol, not a real firearm.
Hemet police stated that bodycam footage indicated Lopez had allegedly pointed the airsoft gun at the officers, and that they could not discern the weapon’s true nature at the time. However, Lopez’s family disputes this account, questioning why non-lethal options were not employed.
Lopez’s grandmother criticized the police response, suggesting alternative measures could have prevented his death. “They could have used a stun gun or other methods,” she said. Denisse Gastelum, the family’s attorney, described Lopez as a “beloved son, brother, nephew, and father,” and accused the officers of committing murder. “We demand accountability from the Hemet Police Department for their actions on July 4th,” added Annie Durocher, Lopez’s aunt.
Video footage from the night shows Lopez sitting on a sidewalk, appearing to use a vape pen before police arrived. The footage captures him moving his hand shortly before officers fired. Police claim Lopez was holding the airsoft pistol at that moment, though his attorneys argue he never brandished the weapon.
The family’s legal team also asserts that more than 100 shots were fired at Lopez. Christian Contreras, another attorney for the family, argued that even if officers could not immediately distinguish the airsoft gun from a real one, there was a fundamental failure in communication and decision-making by the police.
Dennis Zine, a retired Los Angeles police officer, explained that officers often respond to reports of individuals with weapons under the assumption that they are armed, regardless of the weapon’s true nature. A video from a nearby business owner showed Lopez holding a dark object before the shooting, then stumbling into bushes before walking away.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Force Investigation Detail are investigating the shooting. Additionally, the California Department of Justice will conduct an independent review under Assembly Bill 1506, which mandates investigations into officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed person.
Hemet police officials have announced that a critical incident video of the shooting will be released soon, emphasizing their commitment to transparency and cooperation with the ongoing investigations.
