The DEA Honor Roll
Official Line of Duty Deaths
Luis R. Lopez
Rank: Detective
Shield Number: 4202
Command: Manhattan South Tactical Narcotics Team
Date of Death: 03/10/1993
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Detective Luis Lopez, 35, an undercover Narcotics Detective, was shot and killed during an undercover marijuana buy and bust operation. David Degondea, 23, was charged with murder and accused of shooting and killing Lopez outside of a store. Degondea had offered to sell Lopez, who was disguised as a drug dealer, about four pounds of marijuana and an unspecified number of illegal guns for $10,000. Lopez left the scene to get the money from his car. He was shot in the chest at 3:58 p.m. when he and three other Officers went to the Screen Printing Co. at 114 E. First St. to arrest their suspects.
Detective Lopez was a highly decorated eight-year veteran of the Police Department. He was the first City police officer to die in the line of duty in 1993.