Adrian Lopez, Sr.
Incident
Location: Arizona Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Shot and killed
Officer Adrian Lopez was shot and killed during a traffic stop on East Fork Road in Whiteriver, Arizona, at about 7:10 pm.
An altercation occurred between Officer Lopez and the driver during which Officer Lopez was fatally shot. The subject then stole Officer Lopez's patrol vehicle and fled the scene with other White Mountain Apache Police in pursuit. The pursuit traveled almost 40 miles before officers and the subject exchanged shots near Hawley Lake, during which another officer was wounded and the subject was killed.
Officer Lopez was a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He had served with the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department for five months and had previously served 10 months with the United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services in Wind River, Wyoming.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WMA-TR-22FBE093- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Lopez gave the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Whiteriver community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Adrian Lopez, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Adrian Lopez, Sr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Adrian Lopez, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Adrian Lopez, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Adrian Lopez, Sr. is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Adrian Lopez, Sr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

