Armed robbery suspect fatally shot by police in Anaheim

An armed robbery suspect was fatally shot by Anaheim police following a pursuit.

SANTA ANA, Calif. - An armed robbery suspect was fatally shot by Anaheim police after a vehicle and helicopter pursuit in Santa Ana and Wednesday the Orange County District Attorney's office opened an investigation into the shooting.

The suspect was seen by police driving a stolen vehicle around 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 in Santa Ana and when two Anaheim police patrol vehicles attempted to stop him, the suspect drove away and a police pursuit began, said Sgt. Shane Carringer of the Anaheim Police Department.

An Anaheim police helicopter joined the pursuit along with Santa Ana police and the suspect's vehicle became disabled in a construction area near Santa Ana Boulevard and Bristol Street, where police attempted to negotiate a surrender with the suspect, Carringer said.

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Police negotiators spent three hours trying to negotiate with the suspect before SWAT personnel from Anaheim PD took over. They worked for over an hour to convince the suspect to surrender, but the man refused.

Just before 10 p.m. officers used chemical agents to draw the suspect out of his vehicle and, after he stepped out, a police officer shot him. Carringer said only Anaheim police were involved in the shooting.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene and no officers were injured, police said.

Authorities later identified the man who was fatally shot as Brandon Lopez, 34.

Lopez was a cousin of Santa Ana Councilman Johnathan Hernandez.

Family members of Lopez said he was having a mental health crisis and that he shouldn't have been fatally shot.

In a statement, city officials said they offer their "deepest condolences to the family of Brandon Lopez, including his cousin, Santa Ana Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez. Mr. Lopez died on September 28 following an officer-involved shooting involving the Anaheim Police Department in Santa Ana.
Mr. Lopez leaves behind five children, his mother and his father. The city grieves with Councilmember Hernandez and the Lopez family."

Santa Ana police will be assisting the district attorney's office with the investigation.

The city of Santa Ana encourages anyone who is in need of mental health support to seek help. The Orange County Health Care Agency offers a suicide prevention hotline at 800-273-8255, a survivor support line at 714-547-0885, and a support line for anyone who needs mental health or substance abuse support at 877-910-WARM (9276).

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