Loved ones are heartbroken after a Southern California man was tragically shot and killed while visiting Mexico.
Isaac Lopez, 23, had traveled to Ensenada for the weekend to visit his grandmother and attend his sister’s vow renewal celebration. An aspiring singer-songwriter from Riverside, Lopez was excited to reunite with family. He was accompanied by his boyfriend, Jake, and his cousin, Darlene.
Early on October 7, they began their drive back to Southern California. Lopez hoped to rest before returning to work later that day. However, as they reached Rosarito, tragedy struck.
Lopez’s sister, Karen Lajud, recalls the devastating phone call from Jake. “They were about 30 minutes into the drive when Jake heard a pop and saw Isaac’s head slump down as he was driving,” Lajud told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson. The car veered into a ditch, and moments later, a man approached their vehicle.
“He asked in Spanish if everyone was okay, and Jake pleaded for help,” Lajud said. “The man then pulled out a gun, shot Jake in the shoulder, and demanded money and phones, before shooting Darlene.”
The thieves only took Lopez’s cell phone, leaving his wallet untouched, raising more questions for his family. Mexican authorities took over an hour to respond, during which Lopez succumbed to his injuries. His boyfriend and cousin survived.
Lopez’s family believes their vehicle was targeted due to its U.S. license plate. They are now working to bring his body back to California for a proper funeral. “He was the sweetest person you could ever meet,” Lajud said. “We want to bring my brother home.”
The family is overwhelmed by the paperwork and costs involved in repatriating Lopez’s body, and they have found Mexican authorities unhelpful in the process.
Source: KTLA
