Kenosha Deputy Fatally Shot During Traffic Stop
Man Arrested After Intense Search
POSTED: 7:29 am CDT May 17, 2007
UPDATED: 3:27 pm CDT May 18, 2007
A deputy was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop, and a suspect is in custody after an intense manhunt by land and air, a Kenosha County sheriff's official said Thursday.
Deputy Frank Fabiano Jr. was trying to pull over a red Chevrolet Astro van near the University of Wisconsin-Parkside campus at about 11:37 p.m. Wednesday when he was shot once in the face, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department.
A Parkside police officer serving as a backup radioed that shots had been fired and a deputy was down. He also returned fire, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department.
The shooting happened in an upscale neighborhood on 45th Avenue just south of Highway E.
The gunman disappeared into a wooded area, as dozens of squad cars streamed into the area. A helicopter and police dogs were brought in to search for the male suspect.
Kenosha County Sheriff's spokesman Gil Benn said the 44-year-old suspect was arrested at the Woodcreek Apartment Complex, located about a half-mile from the shooting scene just after 2:30 a.m.
Ezequiel Lopez was hiding behind some cars and was still armed, according to Beth.
He was treated at Kenosha Memorial Hospital for injuries and is in the Racine County Jail.
Beth said the suspect had eight aliases and at least five Social Security numbers. The sheriff said Lopez has a Kenosha address, although it was not known if it is current. Lopez, who was born in Durango, Mexico, has also been arrested several times.
Fabiano was transported to St. Catherine's Hospital, where he pronounced dead. He is survived by his wife and 7-year-old daughter.
Fabiano, an 18-year veteran of the force, received a silver star from the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department for rescuing someone from a burning building in Paddock Lake in 1991. He also received a purple heart in 1991 after getting shot in Paddock Lake.
He graduated from Bradford High School in 1977 and loved to go golfing, Beth said.
http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/13336930/detail.html
Deputy Murder Suspect has Long Criminal History
Rob Lowry
KENOSHA - The man now charged with killing Kenosha County Sheriff's Deputy Frank Fabiano is an illegal immigrant with a long criminal record.Despite a criminal record going back six years, Ezeiquiel Lopez was never deported. Only after he was charged with killing Fabiano did anyone try to have him kicked out of the country.Lopez, 44, is accused of murdering the 17-year sheriff's department veteran while high on cocaine. Lopez's history with the law dates back to 2001, when he was arrested in Utah for lewd and lascivious conduct. In 2003, he was arrested in Texas on a gun charge. In 2003, Lopez was picked-up in Missouri for OWI.In 2004, Kenosha Police arrested him on charges of domestic battery, disorderly conduct, bail jumping. Still, this is the first time immigration enforcement had heard of him. "We can find no record of having had contact with this individual before or having had him referred to us by another law enforcement agency," said Tim Counts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In court on Friday, Lopez said nothing. But a fellow inmate at the jail says Lopez had plenty to say Thursday night. "He was saying I'll kill another one of you guys, give me a chance and I'll kill another one of you guys." The inmate wanted to remain anonymous. Lopez has a wife and three kids. A criminal complaint says he was angry with his wife, the night of the murder. He admits to drinking tequila, doing cocaine and driving his van. But says he doesn't remember shooting anyone.A judge set Lopez's bond at $1 million Friday. A hearing to determine whether the case should go to trial is scheduled for May 29.
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/7586027.html
