Sgt. Richard Lopez

Officer: Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, Sergeant Richard Lopez

Date: 6/28/2022          Location: Cordes Lake, AZ   FACTORS (1,2,15) 7?9?13?

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Robert McDowell

Criminal Activity History/Involved: In November 2021 McDowell threatened to “shoot it out” with law enforcement when they went to his house with paperwork from a prior incident. / Yes,  McDowell was suspected of having just committed a theft.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/61

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? Sometime around 12:30 p.m. on June 28, 2022, Sgt. Richard Lopez responded to the Cordes Lake area to investigate a report of a theft. Upon arrival, Sgt. Lopez encountered a suspect, Robert McDowell.

Actions taken by subject toward police: McDowell failed to comply with Sgt. Lopez and was reportedly seen by witnesses chasing after the sergeant. At some point McDowell fatally shot Sgt. Lopez and then fled to his home. Hearing the gunshot, people called 911 and responding officers found Sgt. Lopez laying mortally wounded on the ground. Sgt. Lopez was transported to a medical center where he died from his injuries.

Reactions by the police: Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies tracked McDowell down and after several hours during which he barricaded himself in his house, McDowell surrendered without further bloodshed.

How murdered? Sgt. Lopez was fatally shot by the suspect he encountered while investigating a report of theft.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Additional details are needed to answer this question.

Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Additional details are needed to answer this question.

Outcome for the cop-killer: McDowell was arrested upon surrendering and is charged with first-degree murder.

Miscellaneous: There is scant reporting on the details of how Sgt. Lopez found McDowell and how McDowell was able to get the advantage over the sergeant.