Valentine D. Val Lopez, Jr. was a 54-year-old Hispanic San Antonio Police Department officer and U.S. Army veteran who was shot while responding to a call about an armed man at a bar on February 17, 1977. As he entered the bar the suspect began shooting; Lopez was struck twice, once in the abdomen and once in the chest after a bullet first hit his badge. Despite his wounds he managed to apprehend the shooter, who was arrested, charged, convicted of attempted capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Officer Lopez survived the initial shooting but never fully recovered. He developed complications during surgery and died of those injuries on June 21, 2006. He had served 31 years with the San Antonio Police Department and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Does anyone have memories of Officer Lopez, his service, or the 1977 incident to share?