Christian Michael Lopez, 32, was shot and killed in Hartford, Connecticut, on the evening of December 23, 2023. The dispute that led to the shooting reportedly began over a stolen firearm: Lopez had allegedly taken a gun from the girlfriend of a New Britain man, Joshua Duprey. A witness said Lopez, desperate for drugs, planned to steal and sell the weapon.

Shortly after 8:30 p.m., police responded to a report of a person shot at an apartment building on Franklin Avenue. Surveillance footage shows a Ford F-150 arriving in a rear parking lot; two people ran down stairs and Lopez tried to get into the truck when a third person, identified as Duprey, emerged, an argument occurred, and two gunshots were heard with a visible muzzle flash. Lopez screamed, was found with multiple gunshot wounds, taken to a hospital, underwent surgery and later died.

Investigators used surveillance and license plate readers to link the pickup to Joshua Duprey. He denied involvement when questioned ten days later. The case is now a homicide investigation; anyone with information about Lopez, his movements that night, or the pickup is asked to come forward.