Search fatalities

Rafael Lopez

Gender : Male

Age : 51

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 02/19/2025

Location : 1303 S. Cannon Boulevard

City : Kannapolis

County : Cabarrus

State : North Carolina

Agency : Kannapolis Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On February 19, 2025, at approximately 8:30 a.m., 45-year-old Maria Julian-Pichardo and her 19-year-old daughter, Yamilaine Sosa-Julian, were fatally shot by Maria's husband, 51-year-old Rafael Lopez, in the parking lot of the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services located at 1303 S. Cannon Blvd, Kannapolis, North Carolina. The incident stemmed from a domestic violence situation reported on February 1, 2025, at their residence in Harrisburg, where firearms were previously removed, and Lopez was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault on February 6. He was released on a $5,000 bail and served with a temporary protective order on February 14. Following the shooting, Lopez fled the scene, leading law enforcement on a pursuit into Rowan County. The chase concluded on Lower Palmer Road in Rockwell, where Lopez died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Kannapolis Police Department and the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident.

SOURCE LINKS :

• https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/deadly-shooting-investigation-kannapolis-north-carolina/275-11104eb9-f37c-4374-ba67-507996306cec
• https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/2-shot-killed-outside-cabarrus-county-dss/3SLHSU6R7JBOJDFRV7OJQQZHPM/
• https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/crime/2025/02/19/kannapolis-police-investigate-murder-suicide