PATHOSPHOTO | Conner Jay

Photo stories: The Death of Andy Lopez

The fatal shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez by sheriff's deputy Erick Gelhaus shook the town of Santa Rosa on October 22, 2013. Lopez carried an airsoft gun that was designed to appear as an AK-47. Gelhaus opened fire on Lopez, claiming he mistook the airsoft gun as a real firearm. Soon after the shooting, the city erupted in protests. Lopez's southwest neighborhood known as Moorland particularly felt the loss, expressing great distrust in law enforcement.  

  • Sujey Lopez grabs at the earth in anger where her 13-year-old son Andy Lopez was shot and killed by a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy Tuesday afternoon near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa, October 23, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Law enforcement investigators cover the body of a 13-year-old boy shot and killed by officers near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. The teenager was spotted carrying what appeared to be a rifle shortly after 3 p.m. by deputies on patrol, but was actually a pellet gun modeled after an AK-47. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Sujey Lopez and her husband Rodrigo Lopez mourn for their son by a memorial setup at the site where 13-year-old son Andy Lopez was shot and killed by a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy Tuesday afternoon near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa, October 23, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Demonstrators make their way through the streets towards the County of Sonoma Office of the District Attorney to protest the death of Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Esmeralda Mendoza, 14, wears a beanie with honoring her classmate Andy Lopez during a funeral service and viewing for Lopez at the Windsor-Healdsburg Mortuary on Sunday afternoon, October 27, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Protestors yell profanities at officers in front of the Sonoma County Sheriff's building during a protest over the death of Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Protestors confront Santa Rosa police officers across from the police department along Sonoma Avenue while protesting the death of Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, December 10, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Sujey Lopez and her husband Rodrigo Lopez grieve at the site where their 13-year-old son Andy Lopez was shot and killed by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa, October 23, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Sujey Lopez and her husband Rodrigo Lopez, center, sit with their son Randy while praying at the site where their 13-year-old son Andy Lopez was shot and killed by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa, October 23, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Gaby Camacho, left, and her three younger brothers, from the left, Angel, Julio and Israel read over the signs posted on the fence near the site 13-year-old Andy Lopez was shot and killed by a Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy in Santa Rosa on Friday, October 25, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Carlos Lopez argues with a Santa Rosa police officer during a march towards the County of Sonoma Office of the District Attorney to protest the death of Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Rosiee Meraz, center, marches towards the Sonoma County Sheriff's offices during a protest over the death of Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Sonoma County Sheriff officers in riot gear protect the County of Sonoma Office of the District Attorney during a protest over death of Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Protestors flip off Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies protecting their offices during a march in reaction to the death of 13-year-old Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Demonstrators yell at officers stationed in front of the towards the Sonoma County Sheriff's offices during a protest over the death of Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Ethan Oliver leads serval hundred people marching towards the site where 13-year-old Andy Lopez was shot and killed by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues during a protest Wednesday night in Santa Rosa, October 23, 2013. Oliver lives directly across from where Lopez was killed. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Students from Elsie Allen High School and Lawrence Cook Middle School march towards the site where 13-year-old Andy Lopez was shot and killed by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa, October 23, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Friends of Andy Lopez carry his coffin into Resurrection Parish during his funeral ceremony in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Aliyah Martinez wipes away tears after leaving a memorial service and viewing of Andy Lopez at the Windsor-Healdsburg Mortuary on Sunday afternoon in Windsor, October 27, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Sujey Lopez clutches the coffin holding her 13-year-old son as he husband Rodrigo Lopez consoles her during Andy Lopez's funeral ceremony funeral ceremony at Resurrection Parish in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Rodrigo Lopez and his wife Sujey Lopez, center, walk out Resurrection Parish with the coffin holding their 13-year-old son Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
  • Features
  • Photo stories
    • Small Towns, Big Gangs
    • The Death of Andy Lopez
    • Confronting Grief
    • Cage Fighting Breaks Free
    • Gloria Fires
    • Bodies in Motion
    • These Hands
    • Body Mod
  • Portraits
  • Food
  • Vision
  • News
  • Sports
  • Videos
  • Audio Slideshows
  • Writing
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Resume
  • Contact