An undocumented immigrant is facing charges for the murder of a 15-year-old boy in Morehead, Kentucky, while intervening in an attempted sexual assault on his mother, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Gildardo Amandor-Martinez, a 36-year-old from Mexico, has been taken into custody by local police. He stands accused of killing Luis Lopez, assaulting the boy’s three-year-old sister, and attempting to rape their mother, Allida Lopez.
Reports indicate that Amandor-Martinez, who knew Allida Lopez, went to their apartment with the intention of forcing himself on her. When she resisted, he allegedly attempted to sexually assault her and bit her multiple times, as stated by the authorities.
According to police, Luis Lopez entered the room where this was happening and queried Amandor-Martinez about whether he needed to call the police. In response, Amandor-Martinez fired three shots into the room, fatally striking Luis.
Lewis Lopez was about to enter his sophomore year at Rowan County High School and was described as “a sweet kid who worked so hard to do his best every day at school,” in a Facebook tribute.
“Lewis Lopez, 15, passed away trying to save his mother from this criminal,” stated Tricia McLaughlin from DHS.
Gildardo Amandor-Martinez is labeled as a rapist and murderer who should not have been in the country. A statement criticized the Biden administration’s border policies for allowing individuals like him to pose threats to families.
DHS officials confirmed that Amandor-Martinez attempted to cross the U.S. border illegally three times in 2021. He was able to evade Border Patrol agents after one of those attempts.
Amandor-Martinez remains in police custody.
