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Phoenix Police announce arrest from May 5 murder at a Phoenix bus stop

By
Published  January 4, 2025 6:28pm MST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 10 Phoenix

Murder victim's wife 'relieved' police arrest suspect

Veronica Altamirano, the widow of slain 37-year-old Paul Lopez Jr., spoke to FOX 10 after a 25-year-old murder suspect was arrested in connection to the crime, which happened in May. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean has more.

The Brief

    • A suspect was arrested for a murder at a Phoenix bus stop on May 5.
    • Paul Lopez Jr., 37, was shot and killed after allegedly getting into an argument at a bus stop with the suspect.
    • His widow, Veronica Altamirano, was relieved when she found out on the morning of Jan. 4 that an arrest was made.

PHOENIX - Paul Lopez Jr., 37, was shot and killed on May 5, after allegedly getting into an argument at a bus stop on his way to work. 

On Jan. 4, police arrested 25-year-old Raymond French in connection with the murder. 

Phoenix Police say the shooting happened near 51st Avenue and Indian School Road. 

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Phoenix PD seeks information on fatal bus stop shooting; vigil held for victim
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Phoenix PD seeks information on fatal bus stop shooting; vigil held for victim

Who shot a man at a bus stop over the weekend in Phoenix? Police want to know, and so does his family. On May 5, Paul Lopez Jr. was killed after he reportedly got into an argument at a bus stop while he was headed to work.

Lopez Jr. was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. 

His wife, Veronica Altamirano, found out on Saturday morning an arrest was made.

"Justice will be served and I don't care if it's a week from now, ten years from now," she said to FOX 10.

Photos of Paul Lopez Jr. provided by Veronica Altamirano

"When I got the call, I just cried and with tears of joy. Tears of joy, so happy and relieved. I feel like a weight has been lifted off me."

Evidence including discarded items, video surveillance and eyewitness statements led the police to French and a warrant was issued. 

French was arrested after being involved in an unrelated investigation on the Gila River Reservation. 

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Mug shot of Raymond French (Pinal County Sheriff's Office)

Altamirano said she stayed on top of the investigation the past eight months and refused to give up on finding answers.

"I was in it. Every piece of information I could find out about him, about the situation, about anything, I gave it to detectives," she said.

While the holiday's passed without her beloved husband, Saturday's news felt like a present.

"I never thought it was going to happen. It's been a long time coming for us, but I'm just so happy that I got the call today. I just cried when I got the call. I just cried tears of joy," she said. 

French is charged with second-degree murder and his bond is set at $1.5 million.

Altamirano says she will show up to every court date possible, to look the man in the face after putting her through so much grief.

"You're a coward," she says of French. "To kill him the way you did, just over words, you know, because you didn't like what was said at the time? You didn't have to kill that way and I hope you get what you deserve."

The Source: Information for this story was gathered by FOX 10 Reporter Nicole Krasean.

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