A man who was released on parole just a month ago has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a young Michigan police officer.
Michael Lopez, 44, winked and grinned at bystanders as he was arrested Monday night in Detroit for allegedly shooting and killing Melvindale Police Officer Mohamed Said. According to video footage from the Detroit News.
According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Lopez had been released on parole on June 22, just one month before his arrest, after serving a 12-year sentence for carjacking and assaulting a police officer.
He is currently being held in connection with the shooting death of Mr Syed, who was shot dead in broad daylight on Sunday.
Syed, 23, confronted Lopez around 11:40 a.m. Sunday after he responded to a report of a suspicious person at the car wash. FOX32 reported.
According to the media, Said noticed Lopez had some bags but no car, so he tried to ask her if she was homeless and needed help.
Officers pursued Lopez as he attempted to flee the scene and the two struggled briefly, with Syed firing a Taser at Lopez, who then allegedly pulled a gun and shot Syed.
Security camera footage from the suspect’s home showed him throwing away what appeared to be the murder weapon and fleeing the scene on a green bicycle.
According to the Detroit News, Syed had been with the Melvindale Police Department for just over a year at the time of his murder.
“He was more than just a police officer. He was born and raised here and was beloved by this community,” Melvindale Police Chief Robert Kennerly said.
Kennerly told FOX32 he first met Syed when he was a high school football player.
“The first time I met him was when I was a police dog. I was training dogs on the high school football field and he was playing football,” he recalled. “He came up and asked if he could pet my dog, and I said, ‘Sure,’ and he said, ‘How can I become a police officer?’ So I basically coached him on how to be a police officer.”
“He was an outstanding officer. … Syed went out and gave 110 percent, and that’s what he wanted to do,” he added.
In addition to his new career, Kennerly said Syed was also considering marriage in the future.
“I want everyone to know what kind of person Mo was. He was always a good person, always smiling, always trying to make the city better,” Said’s brother, Ahmed Said, said at a press conference on Monday.
“It’s really hard losing your oldest sibling in the family. We’re heartbroken.”
Lopez was still awaiting formal charges as of Wednesday morning.
The Melvindale Police Department did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
With post wire
