Kalpesh Patel, a 39-year-old resident of Modesto, California, tragically lost his life on January 27, 2017. On that evening, police responded to reports of gunshots in the residential area of Ortega and Galvez, directly behind Memorial Hospital in Modesto. Upon arrival, officers found Patel on the sidewalk, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Witnesses reported hearing a verbal altercation followed by gunshots and a female screaming, after which Patel was seen running across the street before collapsing.
The investigation into Patel's death revealed that he had been in a dating relationship with a former girlfriend of Jose Andrews Lopez III. Lopez, who had previously been incarcerated for domestic violence against the same woman, became enraged upon discovering that she was dating Patel. On the day of the incident, Patel and the woman went to a residence on Ortega Street to retrieve her belongings. Lopez confronted Patel at the house and, during the confrontation, shot him. Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured Lopez and another individual fleeing the scene shortly after the shooting.
Following the incident, Lopez was arrested and charged with Patel's murder. He was convicted of second-degree murder with an enhancement for using a firearm in the commission of the crime, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. On February 18, 2020, Lopez pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 22 years-to-life in state prison. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the ripple effects it can have on the lives of those involved.
