Posted on October 14, 2021

Mother Arrested for Using Part of Multi-Million Dollar Settlement With Police to Buy Guns for Gang

CBSLA, October 9, 2021

A woman who recently won a $4.9 million settlement for the police killing of her 16-year-old son has been arrested on suspicion of using some of the money to buy guns for her younger son and his fellow gang members, authorities announced Friday.

Christina Lopez, 42, of Madera was among 14 people charged in a takedown of a Fresno-area gang allegedly involved in the shooting death of a man in July, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said. The arrests included teenagers as young as 13 and 14 years old.

Christina Lopez

Christina Lopez

Investigators determined a 47-year-old murder convict serving a life sentence at Salinas Valley State Prison ordered the hit on behalf of the gang, Mims said. {snip}

Investigators also discovered that Lopez purchased guns for her 14-year-old son, who then shared or sold the weapons to other members of the gang, District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said.

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In April, Lopez and her husband won a $4.9 million settlement for the 2017 fatal shooting of her son Isiah Murrietta-Golding by a Fresno police sergeant. The teen, who along with his older brother Israel was wanted for questioning in a homicide, was running away from the sergeant when he was shot in the back of the head.  {snip}

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