A Phoenix wife is grappling with the sudden and violent loss of her husband, gunned down at a bus stop this past weekend. Paul Albert Lopez Jr., 37, was shot while waiting for a bus the night of May 5 near 51st Avenue and Indian School Road, as per Phoenix Police. The tragic news was confirmed when officers found him lying on the road with grievous gunshot wounds following a distressing call they received around 11:30 p.m., reporting the sound of shots being fired and people scattering, AZFamily reported.
As details began to unfold, it appeared Lopez had been entangled in a heated verbal exchange prior to the assault, which resulted in him being rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite efforts to save him, Lopez succumbed more than a day later to his injuries, according to AZFamily news. Detectives have been ardently working to gather evidence, including witness accounts and surveillance footage from the area, attempting to identify and track down any suspects involved in the shooting, but no arrests have been made as of yet.
The victim's spouse, Veronica Altamirano, opened up about the family's unbearable pain, marking her wedding anniversary with not celebrations but a candlelight vigil held on May 8. "We've been married three years today," Altamirano said, sharing their thwarted plans for a romantic dinner. In interviews obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, the widow expressed her profound loss: "It was a love that I've never had or felt ever before in my life, and I don't think I'll ever feel that again," she told the network. She further described the fateful night's altercation, saying, "As far as I know, one of them pulled out a gun on him, shot him in his index finger when he went to block it, and then he turned to run away, and they shot him once in the head and twice in the back."
Altamirano characterized her late husband as a devoted family man and provider, emphasizing that no argument should escalate to such violent finality. "They were just exchanging words and nobody deserves to be shot and killed, murdered like that," she added determinedly that justice, regardless of how long it may take to be served, "Justice will be served," she proclaimed. In the meantime, the Phoenix Police Department has made a call for witnesses and is offering a hotline, encouraging anyone with information to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. Additionally, a GoFundMe account has been established to help cover Lopez's funeral costs, which can be accessed through the news channel's report.
