A tragic shooting in Gilbert has resulted in the death of a landscaper, with investigations currently unfolding around the distressing incident. 51-year-old Manuel Vega Lopez, a seasoned landscaper, was shot and killed while preparing to trim trees at a rental property, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Wyatt Ford, 28, the renter of the home where Lopez was scheduled to work, has been taken into custody following the fatal confrontation. Court documents cited by FOX 10 Phoenix described several days of tension leading up to the shooting. Ford's wife had contacted the police that day after spotting a vehicle in front of their house, which they associated with recent attempts at theft and vandalism of their trailer. Ford, known to always carry a firearm, had been alerted by his wife and subsequently confronted Lopez, leading to the shooting.
Witness accounts revealed in court documents detailed that Ford had requested someone to call 911 and exclaimed, "I didn’t mean to do it," after the shooting took place. This critical detail emerged alongside the fact that Ford's wife was on the phone with police during the incident, stating, "just shot him." At the scene, investigators found a black Glock semi-automatic firearm and four spent cartridges near Lopez's body but no weapon on Lopez himself, as reported by ABC15.
The landlord, who had previously informed Ford and his wife of the planned landscaping work, had taken a picture of the tree in question and sent it to Lopez. In fact, Lopez had visited the property the previous night to confirm he could do the job, sending a return picture of the tree to the landlord. As per ABC15 interviews, Lopez's family reminisced about his reputation for fair pricing and reliability, as well as his role as the primary caregiver for a wife with kidney failure and a son recovering from cancer. Lopez leaves behind a grieving family, who are now seeking to return his body to his hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Ford currently faces second-degree murder charges and is being held on a $1 million bond, with his next court appearance set for May 27. The repercussions of this encounter have gone beyond the two men involved, deeply affecting the family of Lopez, who described him as "the best dad ever," as his daughter, Manuelita Vega Salazar, told ABC15. An online fundraiser has been organized to help the family with the impending costs of Lopez's repatriation and other expenses.
