Trial begins for man accused of murdering Melvindale police officer Mohamed Said

MELVINDALE, Mich. (FOX 2) - Testimony began in the case against a man accused of killing a Melvindale police officer in 2024.

Michael Lopez, 45, is facing charges of murdering a peace officer, possession of cocaine, and numerous weapons offenses stemming from the murder of officer Mohamed Said.

Lopez is accused of killing Said while the officer investigated a suspicious person call the morning of July 21, 2024.

A heated moment occurred just as the first witness, a police officer, left the stand. He and Lopez exchanged looks as the officer was walking by.

"Don't shake your head at me," he said. "You're lucky I wasn't there."

Judge Bridget Hathaway then gave instructions to the jury. 

"Please disregard that last comment," she said. "You should not consider it in any way."

At that point the hearing ended for the day. 

Opening arguments began Tuesday with defense attorney John McWilliams arguing that Lopez shot Said fatally out of self-defense, promising that the defendant will eventually take the stand during the trial.

"This is a tragedy, there are no winners here," McWilliams said. "Even though it was a tragedy, my client has the right to self-defense, even lethal self-defense. (Lopez) was scared and justified, he was genuinely fearful he was going to be killed himself."

The assistant prosecutor said that after Said used a Taser during a foot chase, that the two struggled on the ground.

"In the struggle on the ground he points the revolver point-blank at Mr. Said's face," the prosecutor said. "He backs up and puts his hands up and says ‘We’re good, we're good.' The defendant shoots him in the face, throws the gun on a roof, steals a bike and rides away."

Police body camera video was shown in court depicting Said lying on the ground in a backyard in the moments after the shooting.

The backstory:

Lopez is accused of killing Said while the officer investigated a suspicious person call the morning of July 21, 2024.

Police said the officer was called to a car wash near Oakwood and Dix when he spotted Lopez with several bags but no vehicle. Police said the officer went to check to see if Lopez was homeless and needed help, but Lopez ran away.

Said chased Lopez, and there was a brief struggle. When Said Tased Lopez, he pulled out a gun and shot the officer before fleeing, police said.

Lopez was arrested in Detroit the next day after a tip led police to him. Prosecutors said Lopez had a knife in his possession, along with drugs, when he was caught.

According to information shared during previous court hearings, Lopez also robbed an auto parts store the day before Said's killing.

McWilliams said that Said, by putting on gloves to search Said, escalated the situation, which caused Lopez to flee on foot.

"The officer takes further steps for no good reason. The officer takes it to a different level a different stage by putting on gloves, that was Mr. Lopez's invitation to leave the scene," he said. "My client tried to put some distance between himself and the officer by jumping a fence."

Said shot a Taser at Lopez and then struggled with him. McWilliams said that Said was on top of Lopez and had "a weapon in his hand." 

"My client has apologized to the family for the harm or the hurt he caused," McWillaims said. "He thought the officer was going to shoot and kill Mr. Lopez. The officer was right in the face of my client. In that instant, Mr. Lopez made the decision to shoot."

The assistant prosecutor said that Said was killed for protecting his community by Lopez who made a cowardly decision to take his life - because he was desperate.

"This defendant was prohibited from carrying a gun, he was also carrying meth and coke. And he had just robbed an AutoZone in Lincoln Park the day before," she said. "The walls were closing in on this defendant. The defendant was arrested in an abandoned Southwest Detroit house with two large knives found on him. 

"He admits on video to killing Said and said he would do anything to not go back to prison again and even kill a cop."

Dig deeper:

Earlier this year, Lopez's attorney fought for his charges to be reduced. 

Attorney John McWilliams said his client was not under arrest when he started running and "had a reasonable opportunity to believe he was truly in fear of his life." McWilliams asked the judge for a charge of involuntary or voluntary manslaughter.

The charges were not reduced.

What's next:

In addition to the murder trial, Lopez has another trial scheduled for this summer.

He is set to stand trial in July on charges stemming from the robbery that allegedly occurred before Said's murder, as well as a charge of possessing a weapon in jail.

Lopez was allegedly caught with "a sharpened metal rod" while incarcerated at the Wayne County Jail.

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