Flags Half Staff for Fallen U.S. Marine Lopez

Public welcome to take part in tributes to Indio’s native son, fallen U.S. Marine Hunter Lopez

INDIO —  This community will continue to honor and remember fallen U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez of Indio with a photo memorial and yellow roses to be placed in the shade of a large Afghan pine tree on the west side of City Hall.

Members of the are welcome invited to pay their respects to Lopez, 22, by leaving items of remembrance and tribute at this location through September 11, 2021.

The photo memorial reads “In grateful memory of the service and sacrifice of U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez.  You are forever a son of Indio.”

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, Mass.

Lopez was killed on Aug. 26, 2021 in an attack at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan along with 12 other members of the U.S. Marine Corps, including two others from Riverside County, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola and Cpl. Kareem Mae’Lee Grant Nikoui.

“Hunter was selfless in his desire to serve his country and in so doing paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes said in a prepared statement. “Thank you Hunter, and all whose lives were lost, and all who serve, for fighting to protect our freedom.”

The Indio City Council will also honor Lopez at its scheduled meeting this afternoon, Aug. 30.  City flags are being flown at half-staff in his memory.

Late Saturday, the city of Coachella issued a statement on behalf of the City Council and its residents, to recognize the passing of fallen 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.