Nassau County Cop Killed During Pursuit

LongIsland.com

Nassau County police officer Arthur Lopez was shot and killed by ex-convict Darrell Fuller as he chased the suspect who was fleeing the scene of a car accident.

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Nassau County police officer Arthur Lopez was shot and killed during a pursuit of carjacking and murder suspect, Darrell Fuller.  Fuller, 33, was eventually captured late Tuesday night after an hours long manhunt by the Nassau County and New York City police departments.

Officer Lopez, who’s death comes just days after fellow Nassau County police officer Joseph Olivieri was struck and killed on the Long Island Expressway after he responded to multiple vehicle crashes, was shot in the chest by Fuller near the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 241st Street in Queens.  Lopez and his partner, Clarence Hudson, 51, were pursuing Fuller after he fled the scene of a car accident around 11:00 a.m., despite having to drive on rims with blown out tires.  
 
Lopez, 29, of Babylon Village, a former Dix Hills volunteer firefighter, who was not wearing his bullet-proof vest, was first given CPR by his partner before being taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park where he was pronounced dead.  
 
Fuller continued to flee after shooting Lopez.  He abandoned the Honda Civic he was driving after shooting and killing 58-year-old Brooklyn resident Raymond Facey, and carjacked his vehicle.  Facey’s vehicle was later found in Queens, and Fuller was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.  He is now being treated at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
 
Officer Lopez was a highly decorated 8-year veteran of the Nassau County Police Department.  Among his laudable actions, in 2010, he and another officer were received commendations from the Town of Hempstead for aiding a suicidal man.   
 
Fuller, who was released from prison in May 2011, following his 2004 conviction for attempted murder for which he served five years.  He was out on parole in March 2010, but was later reincarcerated after violating his parole with felony drug sale and possession charges.  He was released again in May 2011.  
 
Fuller has not been officially charged for any of his crimes. 
 
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano called Fuller a “cold-blooded murder” who should not have been out on the streets.
 
 
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