End of Watch April 1, 1975
Age 46
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 115 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Phillip Lopez was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in Towaoc, Colorado. Officer Lopez had been called to this site repeatedly for reports of domestic violence. The male suspect drove to Officer Lopez's home and shot the officer multiple times with a .22 caliber rifle, killing him, and then fled the scene before committing suicide. Officer Lopez had served with the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 7 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-831EAB7C
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Lopez gave the United States Department of the Interior 7 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lopez.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdibiaojsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 1, 1975
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber
Offender Not available

Police Officer Phillip Nick 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, 45 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.5% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services
45
of 52 officers
86.5% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Phillip Nick Lopez's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Phillip Nick Lopez Compares

Age at End of Watch
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Phillip Nick Lopez is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Phillip Nick Lopez was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518