Man Freed After Confessing to Murder Kills Victim’s Wife, Dies in Shoot-Out
A man who pleaded guilty to murder but was allowed to remain free shot his victim’s wife to death at her home Friday, then took nine persons hostage at a courthouse and shot at police before officers killed him.
Andy Lopez, 45, of Santa Fe, had asked to exchange the hostages for the judge who sentenced him to seven years in prison Wednesday for the September, 1984, killing of Andy Hernandez, 33, police said.
Lopez, who was freed after sentencing and ordered to report to prison Monday by District Judge Tony Scarborough, was fatally wounded while attempting to leave the courthouse.
Susan Cave, a state psychologist, testified at Lopez’s sentencing hearing that she believed he was not likely to hurt anyone before reporting to prison. She said that he had no prior criminal record and that the killing of Hernandez was an isolated incident in a long-standing family feud.
Police Sgt. Ray Flores said Lopez went to the home of Regina Hernandez, 35, early Friday, before returning to the courthouse, and shot her in the head.
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