In the early morning hours of August 15, 2022, a beloved member of the Kansas City, Missouri community, Salvador 'Águila' Lopez Lopez, was found dead in the street. A 56-year-old Hispanic male, Lopez Lopez was known for his generosity and willingness to help friends in need with work opportunities.
On that Monday, at approximately 2 a.m., Kansas City police were called to the 2500 block of Elmwood Avenue where they discovered Lopez Lopez with multiple gunshot wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators found several shell casings near his body. He had lost his life to gun violence.
The investigation into the homicide led detectives to a nearby house where they spoke with residents who knew both Lopez Lopez and the man who would become the primary suspect. It was revealed that the suspect had been living in that same house until a few weeks prior and was the ex-boyfriend of one of the residents.
Witnesses reported that Lopez Lopez had arrived at the house around 9:15 p.m. while the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Verne E. Moore, was sitting in a parked SUV outside the residence. The ex-girlfriend showed police a threatening text message she received from Moore which read, 'I bet you I kill him when he come back.' Later that evening, after returning to the residence, witnesses alleged that Moore was still outside and pointed a black handgun with a red-laser sight at Lopez. After Lopez Lopez left the house, his ex-girlfriend reported hearing the two men arguing, followed by the sound of gunfire.
Verne E. Moore of Kansas City was taken into police custody on Wednesday following the incident. He was charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action in connection with the killing of Salvador Lopez. Authorities also charged Moore with a felony count of first-degree harassment for allegedly stalking his ex-girlfriend. Upon his arrest, Moore was found with a cellphone that police confirmed was used to send the threatening text messages. He was ordered to be held in the Jackson County jail without bond.
