City of Coachella Mourns Death of Hunter Lopez

City of Coachella to honor memory of U.S. Marine Corps Cpl Hunter Lopez

COACHELLA – Late Saturday, the city of Coachella issued a statement on behalf of the City Council and its residents, to recognize the passing of U.S. Marine Corps Cpl Hunter Lopez. The statement said the city also wants to share its heartfelt condolences to Capt. Herman Lopez, Deputy Alicia Lopez, along with their family and friends.

U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez, the son of Riverside Deputy Sheriff Alicia Lopez and Riverside Sheriff’s Captain Herman Lopez, was killed in action while stationed at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul during the U.S. led evacuation effort.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. Lopez, who was 22 years old at the time of his death, planned on becoming a Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy after returning from his current deployment.

Lopez was among 13 U.S. service members killed in the bombing. Others included an expectant father from Wyoming and a and a medic from Ohio. wo were women, Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California, and Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts.

“We are so saddened by this tragic and sudden loss of one of the fallen U.S. Soldiers in the attack in Afghanistan. His call to service at such an early age and his eagerness to serve his country is honorable. He was a true role model for the community.” Mayor Steven Hernandez said in a prepared statement.

Mayor Hernandez also added, “Hopefully with the consent of U.S. Marine Corps Cpl Hunter Lopez’s parents, the city would be privileged to honor their son with a plaque on the “Wall of Heroes” and a soldier banner at Veterans Park.”