Man killed in a shootout with police after home invasion identified
Pueblo Police have released the name of a home invasion suspect who was shot and killed by officers after a brief chase.
Police identified the burglary suspect as Orlando Jude Lopez, 26. Lopez also went by the name Chism. KRDO NewsChannel 13 found that Lopez had a lengthy criminal history, including felony arrests for menacing, robbery and criminal impersonation.
The pursuit started on the 1200 block of E. 10th Street at around 11:15 a.m. Sunday (1/25/15) when officers were responding to a home invasion.
Police said two men left the house when they arrived. The suspects jumped in a car and drove away from the home.
After a short chase, the car crashed into another vehicle and ended up in the parking lot of Praise Assembly of God Church near Troy and Oakshire.
Betsy Martin said that’s when the church went into lockdown.
“(Church workers) just came running back in telling everyone ‘Back inside now,'” she said.
Roberto Rodriguez-Garcia, 22, was taken into custody at the church, while Lopez ran into a nearby field where he got into a shootout with police.
Rodriguez-Garcia is currently facing charges for menacing with a deadly weapon and burglary.
Mike Ellis lives near where the shooting happened. He said the shootout is something he will never forget.
“(There was) just a lot of popping back and forth, I don’t know. There was about 30-40 gun shots for sure,” he said.
Police won’t say how many officers were involved in the shooting, but those involved are on paid administrative leave as part of the protocol.
Lisa Shorter, a spokeswoman for the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, said Lopez fired shots at officers.
Pueblo’s Tenth Judicial District Critical Incident Team has taken the lead in the case, which includes members of the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, the Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado State Patrol.
“It’s my understanding that at least one of the officers was wearing body cameras and that at least one of the patrol vehicles had their dash cam on,” Shorter said.
Several officers fired shots at Lopez. Their names have not been released. Sgt. Eric Gonzales, a spokesman for the Pueblo Police Department, wouldn’t say why all the officers weren’t wearing body cameras.
A preliminary autopsy report indicates that Lopez died from multiple gunshot wounds throughout his body, according to Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter.
Officers also need your help if you were at Praise Assembly of God Church Sunday. If you have any information regarding the crime, you are asked to call Pueblo Crime Stoppers at 542-STOP.
