Pawtucket man accused of murdering barbershop employee indicted
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence Grand Jury shared that the man accused in the murder of a Central Falls barbershop employee has been indicted on multiple charges.
Luis Lopez, 40, of Pawtucket has been indicted on the following charges:
- one count of murder
- discharge of a firearm resulting in death
- two counts of possession of a firearm without a license
- two counts of possession of a ghost gun
- six counts of possession of a firearm by person convicted of a violent crime
- possession of body armor
- possession of a firearm with an altered serial number
- five counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device
Officials said Lopez was previously released from prison for conviction of manslaughter in 2007 months before the incident occurred.
Surveillance from the intersection of Dexter and Summer St. shows Lopez open fire on 27-year-old Emmanuel Torres Plaza on the night of Sept. 24, 2023.
It was alleged that Lopez shot Plaza multiple times and continued firing as he walked closer to the victim lying on the ground, then fled the scene by car.
Later that night, Plainville, Mass. police responded to a car fire, which was determined to be the car involved in the incident. A bag was found in the car containing two guns, large capacity magazines, and a bulletproof vest.
Lopez was found near the car with a burn wound to his leg and smelled of gasoline, according to officials.
Further investigation revealed that the man in the surveillance video matched the description of Lopez.
Lopez was arrested after police executed a search warrant on his Pawtucket home. The search resulted in the seizure of multiple firearms and large-capacity magazines.
The defendant is set to face a judge later this week.
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