On the evening of October 16th, around 9:30 p.m., deputies from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on Waterloo Road. Among the occupants of the vehicle was Jose Antonio Lopez Jr., who is currently wanted on multiple arrest warrants. In a sudden turn of events, Lopez took control of the vehicle and struck Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Klein, causing the deputy to tumble into a nearby ditch. In response to the assault, Deputy Klein discharged his firearm, firing a shot through the front windshield just moments before being hit by the vehicle.
Following the incident, Lopez abandoned the car and fled on foot, covering approximately a quarter of a mile down Waterloo Road. In an extensive search operation, law enforcement deployed ground units, drones, tracking dogs, and a helicopter to locate him. Deputy Klein was airlifted to a medical facility in Nashville, where he is now reported to be in stable condition.
Lopez was eventually located hiding in a barn close to the scene. Law enforcement quickly surrounded the area on Adams Road, leading to his apprehension. After being taken into custody, Lopez was transported to Southern Tennessee Regional Hospital to receive treatment for a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Once he is discharged from the hospital, Lopez is expected to face multiple felony charges and will be placed in the Lawrence County Jail.