In the early morning of February 17, 2022, 22-year-old Ewdy Lopez was found inside his SUV after it had crashed into a neighbor’s fence in Methuen, Massachusetts. Neighbors and investigators say he appeared to have been shot as he was leaving for work at his usual time around 5:30 a.m. First responders took him to Lawrence General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Lopez was born in Lawrence to Ramiro Lopez and Adalgisa Rodriguez, graduated from Methuen High School, and was working as an apprentice electrician. Family and acquaintances remembered him as a young man with a future who enjoyed playing basketball. Investigators from the Essex District Attorney’s Office, Methuen Police, and the Essex State Police Detective Unit described the shooting as not random and said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

In April 2022, 18-year-old Yanuel Mejia of Lawrence was arrested and later indicted on charges including murder and weapons offenses in connection with the killing. The motive for the targeted shooting has not been made public. If anyone knew Ewdy or has information that could clarify what led to this attack, please come forward.