Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Burt Lopez and Deputy Sheriff Skip York were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a domestic violence suspect at a shooting range at 3985 US-90 in Crestview.
The deputies were following up on a domestic assault report they had taken hours earlier and located the suspect at a gun club in Crestview. The suspect was in the parking lot standing next to his truck. Deputy Lopez and Deputy York approached the man, had a brief conversation with him, and then informed him he was going to be arrested. As the deputies moved to handcuff him, he became uncooperative and began to resist arrest. Deputy York deployed his Taser and hit the suspect. The suspect dropped to the ground during the five-second jolt of electricity. When the Taser cycle ended, the man immediately drew a concealed handgun and opened fire. Deputy Lopez was able to radio for assistance while he and Deputy York engaged the man in a gun battle.
During the exchange of gunfire, Deputy Lopez was mortally wounded. The suspect then climbed into his truck to escape. Deputy York pulled the passenger-side door open and jumped inside in an effort to pull the man from the vehicle, but was shot and mortally wounded.
The man fled the scene and opened fire at deputies from the Walton County Sheriff's Office during a vehicle pursuit. The man's vehicle was rammed by deputies, causing it to flip over near the intersection of U.S. Highway 331 and U.S. 90 in DeFuniak Springs. The man exited the truck and opened fire at the deputies, who returned fire, killing him.
Deputy York and Deputy Lopez were airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. They succumbed to their injuries later in the day.
Deputy Lopez was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-825361FD- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Lopez gave the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Shalimar 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
Burton Lopez served in the Air Force (1983â2003) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Burton Lopez 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Okaloosa County Sheriff's Dept., 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Burton Lopez's cause is highlighted.
How Burton Lopez Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Burton Lopez is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Burton Lopez was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Okaloosa County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
