On the evening of May 5, 2024, 37-year-old Paul Albert Lopez Jr. was waiting for the bus on his way to work in Phoenix, Arizona. An argument broke out between Lopez and two other individuals at the bus stop located near 51st Avenue and Indian School Road. The verbal altercation escalated tragically when one of the individuals shot Lopez multiple times. The suspects fled the scene, leaving Lopez wounded in the street. First responders were called to the chaotic scene around 11:30 p.m.
after a 911 caller reported hearing gunshots and seeing several people running away.
Paramedics arrived to find Lopez with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Paul Lopez Jr. succumbed to his injuries and died less than 24 hours after the shooting. His death, which occurred just days before his wedding anniversary, left his family, including his wife Veronica Altamirano, devastated. She later described him as a loving husband, father, son, uncle, and brother who was the life of the party and brought joy to everyone around him.
For nearly eight months, the case remained without an arrest, though detectives were actively pursuing leads. The Phoenix Police Department utilized discarded items from the scene, video surveillance, and witness testimony to piece together the events of that night. This investigation eventually led them to identify 25-year-old Raymond French as the suspected shooter. The case was presented to a grand jury, which indicted French on charges including second-degree murder, and an arrest warrant was issued.
On January 3, 2025, authorities located and apprehended Raymond French. He was taken into custody after being involved in an unrelated investigation on the Gila River Indian Community. French was booked into jail on the outstanding homicide warrant, bringing a sense of relief to Lopez's family. The arrest was the result of a collaborative effort between the Phoenix Police Department and other local and federal partners, including the Gila River, Chandler, and Mesa Police Departments, as well as the FBI.
