The man suspected of killing a Massachusetts police officer, as well as an innocent bystander, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
Twenty-year-old Emanuel Lopes was arraigned Tuesday in front of a gallery packed with police officers.
Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Greg Connor described in court how Lopes struck Weymouth Officer Michael Chesna with a large rock Sunday morning, grabbed the officer’s service weapon and shot him 10 times.
Emanuel Lopes, 20, appeared before a judge in his hospital gown on Tuesday to face murder charges for killing a police officer and bystander on Sunday. The courtroom was filled with cops including some of the victim’s colleagues and friends
Weymouth Police Office Michael C. Chesna, 42, and 77-year-old Vera Adams, both died on Sunday after Lopes stole the cop’s gun and shot him several times as he investigated reports of a car crash. Vera, who lived in a home at the scene, was struck by a stray bullet which pierced through her window
Chesna was investigating reports of an erratic driver and car crash.
Authorities say Lopes then shot 77-year-old widow Vera Adams in the chest through the sliding glass door of her home. She also died.
Lopes was denied bail on Tuesday during his brief appearance where he sat in a hospital gown in a wheelchair.
He was shot in the leg after the spree on Sunday.
His lawyer Larry Tipton claims he is not fit to stand trial.
He asked for a competency evaluation, telling the court: ‘I’ve been unable to speak with him in any coherent action about the case.’
The judge denied his request. Lopes did not speak at all other than answering to tell the judge that he understood them twice.
The courtroom was packed with police officers for the man’s arraignment on Tuesday
Lopes’ attorney said he was not fit to stand trial. He was shot in the foot by another police officer as he tried to flea the scene on Sunday
Chesna, who previously served in the army, leaves behind a wife and two children
In previous court documents, his own mother said she was afraid of him and wanted a restraining order against him.
She said he had a history of mental health and substance abuse issues.
Lopes also faces charges for possessing a firearm without a firearms ID card, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a car crash, and destruction of property worth less than $1,200.
The killings sparked an outpouring of sympathy from the law enforcement community in Massachusetts.
Chesna was a father-of-two and had been with the Weymouth Police Department for six years.
He worked in the traffic division between midnight and 8am.
This is the scene of Sunday’s double killing. Chesna was assigned to the traffic division and was investigating reports of an erratic driver
There was an outpouring of sympathy for Chesna’s family after his death. Above, crowds gather on the street on Sunday as his body is driven to the medical examiner’s office