Eglin security forces honor fallen officers killed in line of duty

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EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Men and women with the 96th Security Forces Squadron here are wearing black stripes over their badges in honor of two officers killed in the line of duty recently -- one with close ties to their squadron. 

Deputy Burt Lopez and Deputy Skip York, Okaloosa County Sherriff's Office deputies, were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a domestic violence suspect April 25 in Crestview, Fla.

The deputies were following up on a domestic assault report they had taken hours earlier, and located the suspect at a firing range. The suspect was in the parking lot standing next to his truck. Deputy Lopez and Deputy York approached the suspect, had a brief conversation with him, and then informed him he was going to be arrested. 

As the deputies moved to handcuff him, he became uncooperative and began to resist arrest. Deputy York fired his Taser (conducted energy device) and hit the suspect. The suspect dropped to the ground during the five-second jolt of electricity. When the Taser cycle ended, the suspect immediately drew a concealed handgun and opened fire. Deputy Lopez was able to radio for assistance while he and Deputy York engaged the suspect in a gun battle.

During the exchange of gunfire, Deputy Lopez, a retired U.S. Air Force Security Forces master sergeant, was mortally wounded. The suspect then climbed in his truck to escape. Deputy York pulled the passenger-side door open and jumped inside in an effort to pull the suspect from the vehicle, but was shot and mortally wounded.

The suspect fled the scene and opened fire at deputies from the Walton County Sheriff's Department during a vehicle pursuit. The suspect's vehicle was rammed by deputies, causing it to flip over near the intersection of U.S. Highway 331 and U.S. 90 in DeFuniak Springs. The suspect exited the truck, and opened fire at the deputies, who returned fire, killing the suspect.

Deputies York and Lopez were airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. They succumbed to their injuries later in the day.

Deputy Lopez retired from the Air Force as a member of the 96th SFS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He served with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office for six years. He is survived by his wife and children. 

(Information Courtesy of the Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc.)