LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Steven Lopez is the suspect who opened fire at Jefferson Square Park on Saturday night, killing 27-year-old Tyler Gerth. Lopez was wounded in the leg and taken to University Hospital, where he remains in police custody.
The 23-year-old is charged with murder and wanton endangerment.
An arrest citation released by Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) shows that Lopez had no listed home address, phone number, or emergency contact. The report also shows a check for drugs and alcohol came up clean.
Protesters named Lopez at a Sunday morning news conference hosted by The Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, before Lopez’s name was officially released by police.
One protester, Twan, who only provided his nickname, said Lopez had been causing problems at Jefferson Square Park before Saturday’s shooting.
“Steven Lopez, that man had a problem the day before, not the day before yesterday, but a couple of days ago. He had stolen somebody’s phone and went through a tent and all of that. To me, honestly, for real you can do a lot of things and make it seem like I’m crazy; make it seem like you don’t know what’s going on; you’re incapable. It’s all an act,” Twan said.
According to a background check obtained by Spectrum News 1, Lopez had three previous incidents with law enforcement.
Lopez has three charges from a pending case originally filed on March 26, 2020, appearing to be about a vehicle. According to the report, the three charges originally filed on March 16, 2020 include:
- License to be in possession
- Failure of owner to maintain required insurance/security 1st
- No/expired registration plates
The second incident occurred on June 17, 2020. Lopez was arrested on four charges including:
- Inciting a riot
- Drug paraphernalia - buy/possess
- Disorderly conduct, 2nd degree
- Harassment (physical contact) no injury
Lopez’s next arrest came two days later on June 19, 2020, for two charges:
- Unlawful assembly
- Disorderly conduct of the 2nd degree
The background check report shows that both previous arrests came with a $0 bail amount and Lopez was supposed to appear in court due to both arrests in September 2020.
Twan, who said he wasn’t at Jefferson Square Park when the shooting happened, still has many questions based on what he saw of Lopez before Saturday night’s shooting.
“Look, I observe a lot of things, and putting pieces to the puzzle is what I do, but I don’t know exactly what he was wearing. But I know that he had a backpack, a hat, and full-attire on, and he had shoes,” Twan said. “Boy ain’t wearing shoes in three weeks, two weeks. Actually, he’s only been out there for like 12 days. You know what I mean? So, yeah I just, no, it don’t fit right. It does not make sense. It’s weird. Weird,” Twan added.
Some protesters are also asking why LMPD didn’t react quicker since protesters have seen law enforcement on the rooftops surrounding Jefferson Square Park throughout the protests. Protesters, including Twan, also said they have had to provide their own security and essentially “police themselves” while camping out in the square.