In the quiet community of Crestview, a routine domestic assault call on April 25, 2009, escalated into a tragedy that claimed the lives of two Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputies. Deputy Sheriff Burton 'Burt' Lopez, a 44-year-old male, and his partner, Deputy Sheriff Warren K. 'Skip' York, were following up on a report from earlier that day. Their investigation led them to a local shooting range where they located the suspect standing by his truck in the parking lot.
Upon being informed
that he was under arrest, the man became uncooperative and began to resist. Deputy York deployed his Taser, causing the suspect to fall to the ground. However, once the Taser's cycle ended, the man quickly drew a concealed handgun and opened fire. In the ensuing gun battle, Deputy Lopez was mortally wounded. He was able to radio for assistance before succumbing to his injuries. The suspect then attempted to flee in his truck. Deputy York bravely tried to stop him by jumping into the passenger side of the vehicle but was also fatally shot.
A pursuit ensued as the suspect fled the scene, firing at deputies from the Walton County Sheriff's Office. The chase came to a dramatic end when deputies rammed the suspect's vehicle, causing it to overturn near the intersection of U.S. Highway 331 and U.S. 90 in DeFuniak Springs. The man emerged from the wrecked truck and once again opened fire on the deputies. They returned fire, killing the suspect at the scene. Deputy Lopez and Deputy York were airlifted to a hospital in Pensacola, but both tragically died from their wounds later that day. Burton Lopez, a U.S. Air Force veteran who had served with the sheriff's office for six years, was survived by his wife and five children.
