Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 15, 2002
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 15 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 15, 2002
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Agent Rafael Lopez-Colon was shot and killed at the Guayama Judicial Center by a Guayama Municipal officer.
Agent Lopez-Colon summoned the subject, a Guayama Municipal Police officer, to court to respond to a citizen's complaint that he had taken the citizen's car to the junkyard for scrap metal. The subject was allowed entry into the courthouse with his service pistol. When he approached Agent Lopez-Colon, he shot him in the head, killing him instantly. A courthouse security guard returned fire, and the subject died a few days later.
Agent Lopez-Colon had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 15 years, assigned to the Guayama district. He is survived by his wife and two children.