Andy Lopez Case Still Under Investigation

The Lopez family has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the sheriff's deputy accused of killing the 13-year old.

By Von Diaz Nov 15, 2013

Latino leaders came together in Sonoma, Calif. yesterday to continue pushing local officials to address the death of 13-year-old Andy Lopez. Among the members of the Latino leadership group Los Cien was Irene Rosario, who argued that police attitudes towards the Latino community were similar to a "war zone," and are responsible for Lopez’s killing. 

The FBI recently opened an independent investigation into the shooting, and the Lopez family has also filed a civil rights lawsuit against Erick Gelhaus, the sheriff’s deputy accused of shooting Lopez seven times while he was walking home from school carrying a toy gun. Gelhaus remains on leave from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department, and some say he’s unlikely to be charged. Lopez supporters have created a petition to call for the City Council to charge and remove Gelhaus from the police department, and continue to organize events and demonstrations via social media