Prosecution details brutal killing of Central Falls barber, suspect held without bail

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The man accused of gunning down a barbershop employee in a Central Falls parking lot on Saturday was held without bail on 28 charges.

According to prosecutors, Luis Lopez, 39, of Pawtucket, is charged facing charges of murder, five counts of possessing a firearm by someone convicted of a crime of violence, possessing body armor, possessing armor-piercing ammunition and altering a gun’s serial number.

Officials said Lopez, who was convicted of manslaughter for his role in a killing in Foxborough back in 2007, was released from prison in May.

On Sept. 24, at approximately 9:14 p.m., prosecutors say surveillance from the intersection of Dexter and Summer Streets shows Lopez, who was carrying two pistols, open fire on 27-year-old Emmanuel Torres Plaza.

Prosecutors allege that Lopez shot Plaza multiple times, continuing to fire as he walked closer to Plaza who was laying on the ground, then fled the scene in a green Honda Element.

Later that night, police in Plainville, Massachusetts responded to a call for a car engulfed by fire. Police determined that car to be a green Honda Element and found a bag with two guns and large-capacity magazines and a bulletproof vest inside.

Lopez was also found near the car, with a burn wound to his leg and smelling of gasoline, according to prosecutors.

After reviewing surveillance video, police determined the clothes Lopez were wearing were consistent with those that appeared in the footage.

A search warrant was later executed on his Pawtucket residence. The search resulted in the seizure of multiple guns and multiple large-capacity magazines.

Officials said Plaza and Lopez knew each other, but details regarding their relationship were not immediately made available.

Lopez is scheduled to return to court in October for a bail hearing.