Overview
- Michael Lopez was sentenced Friday to life without parole for first‑degree murder after a jury found him guilty in April.
- Judge Mary Hathaway told the court that screenshots from Corporal Mohamed Said’s body camera show Lopez shot Said in the head without any justification.
- The July 21, 2024 encounter began when Said checked on Lopez at a Melvindale car wash, escalated to a chase and a Taser deployment, and ended when Lopez produced a gun and fatally shot the officer before fleeing.
- Lopez testified at trial, admitted recent use of multiple drugs, claimed he acted in self‑defense, repeatedly disrupted court with outbursts that led to removals, and said he intends to appeal.
- In addition to the murder conviction, Lopez was found guilty on multiple weapon and drug counts and will serve consecutive prison terms for those offenses with credit for 683 days already served.