On April 25, 2009, Okaloosa County Deputy Sheriff Burton ’Burt’ Lopez, 44, and his partner Deputy Warren K. ’Skip’ York responded to a follow-up on a domestic assault report that led them to a local shooting range. They located a suspect standing by his truck in the parking lot and attempted to place him under arrest. After the suspect resisted and fell when a Taser was deployed, he drew a concealed handgun after the Taser’s cycle ended and opened fire.

Deputy Lopez was mortally wounded and managed to radio for help before dying later that day. The suspect attempted to flee in his truck; Deputy York entered the vehicle’s passenger side in an effort to stop him and was also fatally shot. A pursuit followed and ended near U.S. Highway 331 and U.S. 90 in DeFuniak Springs when deputies rammed the suspect’s truck and it overturned. The suspect exited and fired again and was killed by returning gunfire. Both deputies were airlifted to a Pensacola hospital and died of their wounds. Lopez, a U.S. Air Force veteran who had served six years with the sheriff’s office, was survived by his wife and five children.

If anyone knew Deputy Lopez or has information about the incident, please share what might help piece together the final movements that day.