Loved ones gather to remember Nassau Police Detective Artie Lopez
Nassau Police Detective Artie Lopez was killed 14 years ago after pulling over a man who fled a crash. That man, Darrell Fuller, opened fire. Lopez was posthumously promoted to detective.
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Loved ones gathered on Friday to remember Nassau Police Detective Artie Lopez, who was fatally shot in the line of duty 14 years ago.
Lopez died after pulling over Darrell Fuller, whom officials said fled the scene of a crash. Fuller opened fire and killed Lopez. He was posthumously promoted to detective.
Retired Nassau Police Officer Keith Blum, a close friend of Lopez, told News 12 that Lopez "was born to do what he did."
Lopez was an officer for all the right reasons, his friend recounted. He loved to serve and took it seriously. His life was cut "way, way too short." But he's not forgotten.
"Still not a day goes by where we don’t talk about him and remember the great person that he was," Blum said. "The smiles, the jokes, the laughter. He was one of the people that just brightened every day. When we came into work, no matter how difficult the things that we saw, he would always come out with something to lighten the mood and refocus you."
Det. Lopez's mother, Mirella Lopez, said she's "very proud" of her son and expressed her gratitude to the Nassau County Police Department, which keeps his memory alive.
She addressed attendees at Friday's graveside memorial, telling them, "I have a lot of sons now. A lot of family."
