In a tragic incident last Friday, 24-year-old Charles Lopez was accused of murdering two elderly men in southwest Houston. Lopez’s relative reached out to ABC13 for an exclusive interview, expressing concerns about the backlash their family has faced online since the news broke.
The relative, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, stated, “I feel like these people don’t understand who (Lopez) really was. What he really was. I feel like they should, I should try to help him. People don’t understand. People say things that they shouldn’t.”
According to reports from the Houston Police Department (HPD), Lopez confessed to ambushing and shooting 67-year-old Natanael Fuentes Reyes and 74-year-old Guadalupe Flores while they were walking in Wildheather Park.
HPD Sgt. Michael Arrington described the attack as an ‘ambush-style’ execution, stating that Lopez shot the victims from behind and continued shooting while standing over their bodies.
Further investigations revealed that Lopez was apprehended on Monday while driving a white Honda Accord that matched the description of the vehicle used during the incident. Inside the car, police found a gun that Lopez admitted was used in the killings.
Court documents indicate that shell casings found at the crime scene matched those from two other shootings in the adjacent Brazoria and Harris Counties, suggesting a larger pattern of violence that investigators are still probing.
The emotional toll of this incident has been profound, with Lopez’s relative stating, “More strife, more grief, more worry. We don’t know what could happen. This is terrible. This is a terrible thing that happened already. We can’t imagine what else could be part of any of this.”
Natanael Fuentes Reyes and Guadalupe Flores were not only victims but longtime friends who enjoyed morning walks together at the park, with their families reiterating the bond between the two men. Interestingly, the neighborhoods of both the victims and the suspect are located directly across from one another, but there seems to be no evident connection between them.
Harris County District Attorney’s Office Chief Prosecutor Michael Simons confirmed there is no known link between Lopez and the victims at this moment, leaving the motive behind this horrific act unexplained. Wille Fuentes, the son of Natanael, mentioned he had never encountered Lopez before his arrest.
In the interview with ABC13, Lopez’s relative disclosed that the suspect had been grappling with mental health issues for quite some time, with his condition exacerbating over the previous month. Due to these challenges, he struggled to maintain employment and exhibited erratic behavior.
“I just want people to know that he wasn’t in the right place. His mind wasn’t stable. His mind wasn’t there and that he was a good person. He is a good person,” the relative expressed, yearning to clarify Lopez’s character.
Lopez is described as a loving father, partner, and friend, with two young children aged four and two from a long-term relationship. Court records have noted ‘mental health issues’ as part of Lopez’s special needs, hinting that the family was struggling to comprehend the severity of his condition.
“I just wish that I could have seen. That I could have helped him more,” the family member lamented during the interview.
Lopez missed his initial court appearances on both Tuesday and Wednesday following his arrest, heightening concerns about the unfolding legal proceedings.
Struck by grief, Lopez’s relative shared feelings of sorrow for the families of the victims, expressing a desire to offer condolences but feeling helpless: “I don’t think there’s anything I can say to them.” This tragedy has left a lasting impact not only on the victims’ families but on Lopez’s family as well.
image source from：abc13
