LAS VEGAS, NV – A shocking series of violent incidents has left a Las Vegas community reeling and a family devastated. An unidentified man, who instigated a crime spree that included shooting his mother and a high-speed car chase, was eventually shot dead by police. The man’s reign of terror ended with the murder of Jerry Lopez, a 39-year-old father of seven, whose van was the last vehicle the suspect stole.
Lopez, who was on his way to work when he was fatally shot, leaves behind a wife and seven children, aged between three and eleven. The family, known for their generosity, had fostered 12 children since 2017, adopting six of them. “He was such an amazing father to our kids,” said Karen Lopez, his wife. “He would just walk through the door after work, throw his stuff down and just jump right in it with the kids, not even taking two minutes to himself.”
The suspect’s violent spree began in the early morning hours, near his childhood home in southeastern Las Vegas. After shooting his mother, he stole a patrol vehicle from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and proceeded to carjack multiple individuals at gunpoint. The ensuing chase ended when law enforcement officers fired at his vehicle, ultimately killing the suspect.
The suspect’s motive for his deadly actions remains unknown. The incident is under investigation by local authorities.