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Accused Drug Trafficker Murdered
posted (August 9, 2019)
A man was killed in his home last night in Lords Bank village, and there is a strong undercurrent of the drug trade in this murder.

The victim is Carlos Lopez, in 2017 and 2018, the 35 year old was thrust into the public spotlight as an accused drug smuggler.

He was never convicted, but, last night, he was marked for death in a secluded home.

It's a strange case with more questions than answers. Our news team has been following it all day, and Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
35-year-old Carlos Lopez took his last breath here at his home in Lords Bank. A gunman came all the way to his house, in a secluded part of the village, just to gun him down and leave him to die on his own property.

He had just arrived home, with his niece, and it is believed, while he was securing his vehicle, and locking the gate, a gunman came out of the darkness and opened fire on him.

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"Last night, shortly after 8 p.m., police were called to the Lords Bank area, the home of one Carlos Lopez, where, upon arrival, they were informed that Carlos Lopez had arrived sometime shortly before 8, along with one of his nieces, who exited the vehicle, and then went into his home while he stayed outside to close the gate and secure his vehicle. According to her, she heard a number of shots, and thereafter the police were called."

There was a bit of confusion, and the police did not find Lopez's body on the first response attempt. They later discovered him on a return visit.

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"The police then visited the area and conducted searches, outside. And then, whilst searching inside, the body of Carlos Lopez was inside his home, dressed in a blue jeans pants without a shirt, with gunshot injuries and motionless. The scene was processed, and his body was removed and transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where it was pronounced dead."

One resident told us that during the deadly attack on Lopez, this church next door was in session, and there was a very lively sermon taking place. Another resident told us that he heard what sounded like 10 gunshots, but all he did was peep through his window. When he saw nothing, he remained alert and cautious until the police arrived to take over.

Also, the street on which Lopez resides has only 2 lamps, which, according to residents, keep it only partially lit.

These are all limitations that investigators will have to overcome to get to the bottom of Lopez's murder

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"So far, there are no leads yet, and one person is detained at this time, pending the investigation."

It is unclear at this time why Lopez's life ended so violently. The only things that he is known for are the two drug trafficking charges that police brought against him in the past two years. In the first case, police alleged - but couldn't prove - that he and another man were riding around in his white SUV with several kilos of cocaine. Last year, police alleged that he and another man were attempting to smuggle marijuana across the northern border, using his very same white SUV.

Police say that at this time, they aren't focused on that angle as being the motive for his killing.

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"That too will be investigated, but is not a part - or that is not an issue in this investigation."

Police recovered seven 9mm expended shells from the scene. A post mortem found that he died from massive brain damage due to multiple gunshot wounds.

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