On a spring night in Ogden, Utah, the life of 18-year-old Hispanic male Francisco Lopez, known to his loved ones as "Cisco," was tragically cut short. On May 3, 2015, after attending a family gathering, he was walking home in the early morning hours. It was a journey he would not complete. Near the intersection of 7th Street and Harrison Boulevard, the sound of multiple gunshots pierced the night, heard by an Ogden police officer who was in the vicinity responding to an unrelated call about a
loud party. The officer discovered Francisco on the ground, having been shot several times. Medical personnel arrived and transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Francisco's death was handled by the Ogden Police Department's Major Crimes Division and the Weber County Homicide Task Force. His family was adamant that he was not involved in any gang activity, describing him as a hardworking young man who loved his family and enjoyed music and trips to the mountains. They were left grappling with the senseless violence that took him from them. Authorities explored the possibility that the shooting was gang-related and a case of mistaken identity, as there had been a series of similar incidents in the area where individuals were confronted and asked about gang affiliation before being shot. Police sought information from the public about a dark-colored or blue sedan that was seen in the area around the time of the homicide, but no weapon was recovered at the scene.
Years have passed, but the case of Francisco Lopez's murder remains unsolved. No arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The investigation is now considered a cold case and has been taken up by the Weber Metro Cold Case Task Force, which continues to seek new leads. The profound loss has had a lasting and devastating impact on his family, a wound that has never fully healed as they continue to hope for justice for Francisco.
