Frank Dario Lopez, a 48-year-old Latino, was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy on December 10, 2017, in the 11900 block of Droxford Street in Artesia, California. The incident began when Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were called to the residential neighborhood shortly after 9 p.m. regarding a man in an SUV looking into parked vehicles. Witnesses reported that the man was driving erratically and parking his car on the lawn of a house.
Eventually, the man parked his car in a vacant lot and walked into the neighborhood. A deputy searching for the suspicious person found Lopez hiding behind trash cans between two houses. When the deputy asked Lopez to come out, he became uncooperative and physically attacked the deputy. The deputy, who was alone at the time, called for assistance. During the struggle, the deputy attempted to use a taser on Lopez without success. Two other deputies arrived and saw Lopez trying to stab the first deputy with a knife. When the two other deputies tried to intervene, Lopez lashed out at them with the knife, causing minor cuts to one of the deputies. The deputy who first found Lopez was stabbed in the hands, and during the struggle, he shot Lopez. Lopez was pronounced dead at 10:13 p.m. with gunshot wounds to the chest. The deputies involved were treated for their injuries and released.
Authorities had conflicting information about Lopez’s age and residence because he used more than one date of birth. He had family living in Artesia, but investigators believed he lived in Hemet and was born on August 16, 1968. Coroner’s records listed Lopez’s last city of residence as Placentia and his date of birth as April 2, 1969. Investigators found an open pocket knife at the scene of the shooting and were waiting for toxicology results to determine if drugs played a role in Lopez's behavior.
There were no arrests or suspects in the case, as the incident was classified as a deputy-involved shooting. The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the shooting and whether the use of force was justified. The deputies involved were not charged with any crimes, and the case did not result in any litigation or murder charges. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department conducted an internal investigation to review the actions of the deputies involved and ensure that proper procedures were followed. The incident highlighted the challenges law enforcement officers face when dealing with uncooperative and potentially dangerous individuals.
