Friends seek justice for unarmed man shot in Orange

Jose Luis Lopez, a 26-year-old immigrant from Mexico, was fatally shot by Orange County deputies during a chaotic incident on February 8. Friends say he was a passionate soccer player and dedicated worker who sought a better life in the U.S. The tragic event began when Lopez texted a friend, Loida Zunun, about an intruder in his home. Zunun called 911 for help, hoping to support her friend. Minutes later, deputies arrived and saw Lopez struggling with Cristian Duran-Contreras, the intruder. Mistakenly believing Lopez had a knife, deputies shouted at him to drop it. Instead, within seconds, they fired their weapons. Body-worn camera footage later revealed the deputies, instructed in English, while Lopez, who spoke limited English, shouted back in Spanish. Tragically, Lopez was struck in the head and died at the scene. Investigators found no knife, and Duran-Contreras, who had been drinking with Lopez earlier, faces a second-degree murder charge. At a vigil held at Lake Ellenor Park, where Lopez often played soccer, friends and teammates gathered to mourn his loss. They expressed their sorrow and called for justice, emphasizing the community's growing fear of law enforcement amidst rising tensions over policing in Latino communities. Lopez’s family in Mexico is devastated by the news. His friends remember him as ambitious and hardworking. He had plans to return to Mexico and start a farm with his parents. Activists have criticized the deputies' actions and are calling for accountability for the shooting. As the investigation continues, the community remains shaken and fearful of calling the police for help.