Lopez

From Mirror staff reports

One man is dead and another is behind bars after a large fight early Sunday morning turned into a homicide investigation.

Altoona police responded about 1 a.m. to the 400 block of S. Kettle Street where a large fight was in progress, with bystanders trying to break it up, police reported.

During the fight with multiple other people, Corey Lexus Lopez, 34, allegedly struck the male victim, who collapsed and became unresponsive. The victim, identified as 41-year-old James Dunn of Altoona, was pronounced dead at UPMC Altoona due to injuries suffered in the fight with Lopez, the Blair County Coroner’s Office reported.

When officers arrived on South Kettle Street, they observed a large crowd physically fighting outside and found Dunn unresponsive in the street.

Officers broke up the fight and rendered aid to Dunn until AMED arrived, according to the report.

Police spoke with witnesses and reviewed surveillance video, learning that a single gunshot was fired into the air in an effort to break up the fight. Officers recovered one shell casing on the ground, the report states.

As officers were attempting to speak with Lopez during the initial investigation, he shoved an officer and was taken into custody.

He was charged with criminal homicide when police were informed that Dunn died from injuries suffered in the fight.

Lopez was arraigned Sunday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones and was lodged in the Blair County Prison after bail was denied.

In addition to the criminal homicide charge, Lopez faces felony charges of aggravated assault, misdemeanor charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest, along with summary charges of harassment, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, public drunkenness and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

His preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 14 before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Eric Heuston at 814-949-2524 or Detective Matthew Angermeier at 814-949-2493.