A 32-year-old Kissimmee man is now facing a second-degree murder charge in the killing of a 71-year-old man found in a backyard, according to police. The victim, identified as Charles Harper, was discovered with apparent blunt-force injuries on June 26. Investigators say the suspect, Nicolas Alexander Lopez, was linked to the case after officers spotted Harper’s pickup truck and arrested the man who was driving it.
Kissimmee officers were called around 10:15 a.m. on June 26 to the 1500 block of Heather Way, where they found Harper dead. Detectives later determined that his blue pickup had been taken from the scene, according to FOX 35. Roughly two hours after the initial call, Altamonte Springs police stopped a pickup registered to Harper and took a man into custody. Seminole County booking logs list charges of resisting an officer without violence, giving false identification, and grand theft of a motor vehicle for the person arrested, per the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.
Victim Remembered, Suspect's Record Scrutinized
Family members and neighbors described Harper as a churchgoing man who frequently helped others, a presence they say is now painfully absent from the block. Relatives have requested privacy as detectives continue to work the case. Records and prior reporting indicate that Lopez has a criminal history, including a 2023 felony battery conviction in Osceola County tied to a 2022 incident, as reported by WFTV.
Murder Charge Filed, Warrant Issued
On Tuesday, an arrest warrant was issued and Lopez was formally charged with second-degree murder, according to WESH. Kissimmee police say detectives will keep gathering evidence while the Osceola County State Attorney's Office reviews the case. Officials have not yet announced a court date, according to reporting.
How To Help Investigators
Detectives are asking anyone who has information about Harper's movements, or who spotted his truck after 10:15 a.m. on June 26, to contact the Kissimmee Police Department at 407-846-3333 or leave an anonymous tip with CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS, per FOX 35. Neighbors say the Heather Way block has been on edge since the killing, as investigators keep working to piece together what happened.
