Eduard Lopez (2019)

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Overview

On September 3, 2019, Fox Valley Wisconsin Metro Police Department Officer Sam Pynenberg picked up the pursuit of a vehicle driven by Lopez, who was wanted for traffic-related offenses.[1] Lopez had been driving erratically.[2]

Lopez led officers on a chase through several communities. Lopez's vehicle spun out in a roundabout and started driving in the direction of multiple law enforcement officers and vehicles.[3]

Pynenberg claimed that he feared Lopez would kill him by driving at him or harm other officers. Pynenberg shot at Lopez's vehicle, striking him once in the chest and abdomen area.[3]

Lopez died at the hospital.[1]

Pynenberg was placed on paid administrative leave.[4]

Body-worn camera and business surveillance video was reviewed.[1][5]

An investigation will be conducted by an independent agency, which is required under state law for incidents where a person dies during an encounter with a police officer. The state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) opened an investigation.

On October 02 , 2019, the DCI send their investigative file to the Outagamie County District Attorney's Office for legal review.[6]

The District Attorney's Office concluded that Pynenberg's belief that he and other officers were in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm was reasonable and that the use of deadly force was justified. No criminal charges were filed.[7]

On September 2, 2021, Lopez's family filed suit, claiming Pynenberg used excessive force and violated Lopez's rights under the Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments.[2][8]

Video

The dashcam in Pynenberg's vehicle was not functional at the time of the shooting.[9]

Pynenberg's body-worn camera was not activated until after the shooting.[5]

Video released by the Wisconsin Department of Justice

Officers Involved


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Investigative Synopsis Report, Wisconsin Department of Justice
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Brian Kerhin, Fox Valley Metro police sued over 2019 shooting death, FOX 11', 2021-09-03
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Brian Kerhin, Trial date set in wrongful death lawsuit against Fox Valley Metro police, FOX 11, 2021-11-15
  4. ↑ Man killed, officer identified in Fox Valley police shooting, FOX 11, 2019-09-11
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Video Files, Wisconsin Department of Justice
  6. ↑ Synopsis Report, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, 2019-10-14
  7. ↑ DA: Officer justified in Fox Valley police shooting, FOX11', 2019-10-14
  8. ↑ Lopez vs FVMPD, United States District Court, 2021-09-02
  9. ↑ DCI Case Reports, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation

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