Authorities say a man suspected of fatally shooting a Lyft driver in Guadalupe earlier this week was arrested Tuesday morning after an intensive search.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) identified the suspect as 29-year-old Angel Lopez, who was booked into jail on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery. His bond was set at $1 million.
The case began Monday morning when deputies responded to a report of a shooting near Calle Bella Vista and Calle Barbarita, close to Guadalupe Road and Interstate 10. A caller told dispatchers her boyfriend had just shot their Lyft driver.
Deputies found 51-year-old John Lucas unresponsive in his vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
That same day, MCSO’s SWAT team surrounded a nearby home but did not locate the suspect. The following morning, patrol deputies spotted Lopez less than a mile from the crime scene near Calle Batoua. After fleeing into a residence, Lopez eventually surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.
Guadalupe, a town of about 5,000 residents tucked between Tempe and Phoenix’s Ahwatukee neighborhood, contracts with MCSO for law enforcement services.
“This arrest reflects the commitment of our deputies and detectives to protecting the residents of Guadalupe and Maricopa County,” Sheriff Jerry Sheridan said in a statement. “Our community’s safety is our top priority, and we will continue to act quickly and decisively against violent crime.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
